Michigan's Judicial Tenure Commission will review a new 48-page report about missteps by Wayne Circuit Judge Bruce Morrow and then recommend to the Supreme Court whether he should be disciplined, according to The Detroit News.
Judge Bruce Morrow of Wayne County Circuit Court (WXYZ photo)
The report by a retired Oakland County judge says Morrow committed judicial misconduct in two of 10 cases reviewed by the state Judicial Tenure Commission, Oralandar Brand-Williams writes.
The commission put forth 26 counts alleging Morrow “has engaged in conduct that demonstrates a lack of impartiality, failure to follow the law, an abuse of judicial power, and violations of the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct.” . . .
In most of the 10 cases under review, former Judge Edward Sosnick disagreed with the commission’s findings. . . .
In two cases, Sosnick did find there was evidence of misconduct: once, when Morrow failed to put a convicted rapist in jail as he awaited sentencing and later when he personally retrieved a convicted felon — guilty of armed robbery and carjacking — from a courthouse lockup so he could attend a hearing at which no security was present.
Morrow’s lawyer, Donald Campbell, said during the hearing that the judge followed the law and that he was targeted for complaints because he is African-American.
Possible penalties include censure, suspension or removal.
