FOLLOW US

Judge Nance is accused of providing false information related to a 2019 incident involving another judge being rude to a bike rental staff person.

The case comes from an August 2019 incident in which 36th District Court Judge Demetria Brue allegedly got into a dispute with a bike rental employee on Mackinac Island. According to the complaint, Judge Brue told police that the worker had assaulted her falsely, resulting in ethics charges for her. Security camera video referenced in police reports allegedly contradicts Brue's account: But it actually shows she grabbed an invoice from him not the other way around

Nance, who was present at the scene, stands accused of giving misleading information to investigators concerning Brue’s conduct and the actions of a police officer. Nance says the officer failed to acknowledge her and Brue, which she took as racially motivated – both judges are Black.

The Defence Set Out in Judge Nance's Fillings

In a response filed Monday, Judge Nance stated that disciplinary counsel have not demonstrated she knowingly made false statements. She claimed the charges are "groundless" and slammed the probe as a “blatant” attempt to coerce her into endorsing predetermination. There are no witnesses or video evidence available, Nance stressed; and the surveillance recordings that do exist are silent and in parts missing.

In addition to admitting fault, Judge Nance maintained that if she did indeed make any inaccuracies in her statements, they were not intentional and insignificant relative to the overall case. She saw herself as an innocent witness to a "customer misunderstanding" between Judge Brue and the bike dealer.How Judge Nance Saw It

In May, retired Michigan State Judge Alexander Lipsey, who served as special master for this case, recommended to the Judicial Tenure Commission that it dismiss a complaint against Judge Nance. Lipsey found no evidence that Nance had intentionally lied or tried to stall an investigation.

He also said that key portions of video evidence had disappeared or had been declared inadmissible. Disciplinary counsel had not pointed out sufficient evidence warranting a trial.Despite the special master's recommendation, disciplinary counsel objected earlier this month. They said that Lipsey had overlooked important evidence and testimony.Judge Nance's Perspective on the Judicial Process

Judge Nance, who has been on the bench since 2012, said that she is disappointed by what happened in the disciplinary process. The charges are a "travesty of justice," she declared. She noted that this experience has given her a view of the justice system from the perspective of those falsely accused itself and that the ongoing investigation is smudging what was previously her "unblemished" 25-year legal career.