Why the Fit-Bench Act Matters: Lessons from the Judge Pauline Newman Case
On the heels of Oakland County Judge Kirsten Nielsen Hartig’s dementia diagnosis, I felt it worth stating something the judicial…
Rita Williams
Rita Williams is a Michigan-based judicial oversight analyst and founder of Clutch Justice, an investigative platform focused on court system accountability, sentencing integrity, and SCAO policy. Her work examines how courts, policies, and administrative systems operate in practice, with a focus on where process breaks down and harm is created. Drawing on lived experience and systems-level analysis, she writes to make legal structures more readable, expose institutional gaps, and advocate for reforms grounded in both evidence and human impact. Rita’s writing bridges legal analysis, institutional critique, and public education, with a consistent focus on accountability without losing sight of the people most affected by the justice system.
All in the Family: How Legal Dynasties Shape Prosecutor and Judicial Power
The legal system likes to describe itself as meritocratic. Neutral, even. Open to anyone with the credentials and the “grit”…
Michigan Has No Way to Ensure Judges Are Mentally Fit to Serve. That’s a Terrifying Problem.
Every person who walks into a courtroom assumes one basic thing: the judge deciding their case is mentally capable of…
Judge Kirsten Nielson Hartig’s Dementia Diagnosis Exposes Michigan’s Judicial Fitness Gap
Major Development in Judge Kirsten Nielson Hartig Judicial Tenure Investigation Reinforces Need for Mental Fitness Standards on the Bench. For…
Kevin Travis Announces Candidacy for 57th District Judge in Allegan County
EDITORIAL NOTE: Since original publication, Mr. Travis has decided not to run. Watson Township Supervisor Kevin Travis has formally announced his…
Attorney Charles G. Goedert Reprimanded After Sending Critical Letter to Appellate Judge
The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board has issued a reprimand against Charles G. Goedert (P39645) of Kalkaska, Michigan, effective August 27, 2025, following consent discipline proceedings. The reprimand…
What Trauma-Informed Criminal and Family Courts Actually Look Like
Yesterday, I discussed how the family court structure needs a revamp, and how trauma-informed practices could dramatically change outcomes. However,…
Family Court Makes People Lose Their Marbles: The Fight-or-Flight Problem Courts Keep Ignoring
In my time as a journalist and social researcher, there is one thing I have noticed again and again: family…
Attorney Nicholas A. Tselepis Suspended for 30 Days After Extrajudicial Statements About Criminal Matter
The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board has suspended Nicholas A. Tselepis (P80909) of Caro, Michigan, for 30 days, effective August 27, 2025, and imposed conditions relevant to the established…
Inside an Attorney Grievance Commission Complaint: What Happens When Lawyers Are Investigated
We tend to think of lawyers as unshakeable professionals who more or less navigate conflict for a living. They’re the…
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