Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.
A Wayne County district court judge is facing a public misconduct complaint with accusations he embroiled himself in his chief judge’s election, called her names, displayed her opponent’s photo from the bench, and repeatedly broke court rules.
Taylor’s 23rd District Court Judge Joseph Slaven was formally accused by the Judicial Tenure Commission, the state’s judicial oversight body, in a complaint announced May 28.
The complaint largely centers on his role in a multi-year election fight between 23rd District Court Chief Judge Victoria Shackelford and Administrative Law Judge Michael Tinney, though Slaven is also accused of unrelated misdeeds, including driving with an expired registration and repeatedly flipping off the middle finger at courthouse security cameras.
The Free Press reached out to Slaven through his court staff, phone numbers and an email believed to be tied to the judge. He did not provide a comment on the allegations. He has 14 days to issue a formal response to the commission.
Shackelford could not be reached for comment. The 23rd District Court administrator, Deanna Warunek, in an email said Shackelford would not comment but that she and the court staff were “fully committed to carrying out their responsibilities at the court.” Slaven appeared to conduct hearings on a live stream Thursday.
The complaint is the first step in a court-like process that, at its most severe, could lead to a suspension or removal of a judge, depending on the findings and a decision by the Michigan Supreme Court.
A public complaint itself is a rarity for the tenure commission and is reserved for situations it deems most serious. Most grievances filed with the commission do not result in findings of fault, and those that do are primarily resolved behind closed doors.
The complaint accuses Slaven of misdeeds, including:
Slaven won his seat on the bench first in 2014.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Taylor judge called chief judge names, flipped off security cameras, complaint says
Reporting by Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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