Michigan Supreme Court Dismisses Misconduct Claim Against Wayne County Judge

Michigan Supreme Court Dismisses Misconduct Claim Against Wayne County Judge

Detroit, MI – The Michigan Supreme Court has officially dismissed a misconduct complaint against Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Paul Cusick, concluding an investigation that began over a year ago. The ruling brings clarity to allegations made against Cusick regarding his conduct as an assistant attorney general in a marijuana case from 2014 to 2016.

Background of the Allegations

In November 2022, the Judicial Tenure Commission (JTC) publicly accused Judge Cusick of serious misconduct, including accusations of withholding evidence from the defense and committing subornation of perjury in a marijuana-related case. The term “suborning” refers to encouraging someone to lie under oath.

According to the JTC, these actions violated professional standards and undermined the integrity expected of judges, thereby exposing the legal profession to contempt. The commission believed that Cusick acted contrary to Michigan court rules that mandate justice, ethics, and honesty.

Dismissal and Findings

However, the situation took a turn in February 2024 when the JTC determined that there was not enough credible evidence to support the accusations against Judge Cusick. The decision came after a special investigator reviewed the complaint and found no basis for the claims. Former Ingham County Judge Peter Houk, who was appointed as the special master for this case, stated in his report that Judge Cusick’s testimony was “very credible” and characterized the charges as “incomprehensible” and lacking credible support.

Following the dismissal, Cusick’s legal team, consisting of attorneys Donald Campbell, James Hunter, and Erin Rodenhouse, responded to the JTC findings, stating that the case against their client was rooted in “a false narrative.” In their defense, the attorneys argued that the JTC had a “gross misunderstanding” of the law and had failed to carry out thorough research before pursuing the complaint.

Pending Complaints Against Other Judges

The dismissal of Cusick’s case does not indicate the end of scrutiny for other judges in the area. The JTC is currently handling two additional complaints against judges from the Metro Detroit region. One of these cases involves Detroit’s 36th District Court Judge Demetria Brue and the other involves Southfield’s 46th District Court Judge Debra Nance.

Brue faces accusations of lying about an assault incident involving a bike shop owner while Nance is allegedly involved in providing false statements during the investigation connected to Brue’s situation. These ongoing matters highlight that issues of judicial misconduct remain pressing concerns in the Michigan court system.

Conclusion

The Michigan Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the misconduct claims against Judge Paul Cusick signifies the end of a challenging chapter for the judge. The conclusion also raises questions about the JTC’s investigative processes and how allegations of misconduct are brought forth against judges. As the commission continues to deal with its other cases, many will be watching closely how these matters unfold.