Well?

[liberty]

And you tell me that honor is not endangered in our country?
judges do swear an oath to do their duty don't they?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wade got played.

It’s the phrase Wayne County Circuit Judge Wade McCree used when he talked to a detective about Geniene La’Shay Mott, with whom he had an affair, according to testimony that took place in an Ann Arbor courtroom today.

McCree, who has been suspended from his job without pay, is accused misconduct in office, according to a 20-page complaint filed by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission. A hearing, similar to a bench trial, began today.

McCree started a relationship with Mott, a complaining witness in a child support case before him, after she appeared in his courtroom in May 2012, according to today’s testimony.

Detective Timothy Matouk, with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, talked to McCree in November and said he used the phrase “Wade got played" when discussing his situation. McCree told him that Mott wanted her to give him $10,000 in cash to make their problem go away, he said.

“The problem being that she was pregnant with his child,” Matouk recalled from the conversation.

McCree doubted he was the father and made a comment of being the “king of latex." No charges were ever filed in connection with the allegations.

The testimony came during the first day a formal hearing taking place in Washtenaw County Circuit Court. McCree is expected to take the stand Tuesday.

Margaret Rynier, associate examiner with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, said McCree shamed bench and the legal profession and violated the code of the judicial conduct.

“When Judge McCree was sitting on the bench, he was referred to as ‘honorable’ or ‘your honor’ and that goes with his position on the bench,” she said. “But what he had done was to use that position to essentially find a woman and make her into his mistress.”

Mott appeared in McCree's courtroom for a child support case involving the father of her child, Robert King, on May 21, 2012.

McCree, who is married, sat quietly in court wearing a suit and listened to Mott testify.

Brian Einhorn, McCree’s attorney, said his client should have recused himself from a hearing in King's case that took place last August, but said the relationship didn’t impact McCree’s decisions in the case.

The case is about if he acted appropriately as a judge, not a husband, Einhorn said.

“He wasn’t cheating justice,” he said. “He embarrassed himself, but he didn’t embarrass the judicial system.”

Mott said she discussed King’s case with McCree, had sex with him “several times” in judge’s chambers, moved into the house of McCree’s mother, who is deceased, went with him to University of Michigan football games and to church and said he gave her $5,000 for a down payment for a Detroit home.

Mott also testified that she is currently pregnant and told McCree in November that she was pregnant.

But when asked today who the father is, she didn't say.

“I’m not answering any questions related to my pregnancy,” she said.

Retired Jackson County Circuit Judge Charles Nelson is overseeing the trial, asked her to answer the question.

“I don’t know,” she said. “There are some medical issues that occurred and both me and my doctors don’t know.”

The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission accused McCree of two counts of improper conduct, false report of a felony, improper bench conduct and demeanor and misrepresentations to the commission. The judge could face censure, suspension or removal from the bench.

Einhorn said he doesn’t think most of those allegations will be supported.

Testimony resumes Tuesday morning in Ann Arbor.

Mott testified in an Ann Arbor courtroom today about their relationship, which started in 2012 after she appeared in his courtroom for a case against the father of her child, Robert King, and is expected to take the stand again after lunch.

Mott said she discussed King’s case with McCree, had sex with him “several times” in judge’s chambers, moved into the house of McCree’s mother, who is deceased, went with him to University of Michigan football games and to church and said he gave her $5,000 for a down payment for her Detroit home.

She testified in an Ann Arbor courtroom today about their relationship, which started in 2012 after she appeared in his courtroom for a case against the father of her child, Robert King, and is expected to take the stand again after lunch.

Mott said she discussed King’s case with McCree, had sex with him “several times” in judge’s chambers, moved into the house of McCree’s mother, who is deceased, went with him to University of Michigan football games and to church and said he gave her $5,000 for a down payment for her Detroit home.

McCree, who is married, sat quietly in court wearing a suit and taking notes during testimony.

His attorney, Brian Einhorn, said his client should have recused himself from King’s hearing last August, but said the relationship didn’t impact McCree’s decisions in the case.

The case is about if he acted appropriately as a judge, not a husband, Einhorn said.

“He wasn’t cheating justice,” he said. “He embarrassed himself, but he didn’t embarrass the judicial system.”

The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission accused McCree of two counts of improper conduct, false report of a felony, improper bench conduct and demeanor and misrepresentations to the commission. The judge could face censure, suspension or removal from the bench.

Einhorn said he doesn’t think most of those allegations will be supported.

Testimony became heated when it turned to Mott’s pregnancy. She testified that she is currently pregnant, and told McCree in November that she was pregnant but didn’t say who the father of her child is when initially asked in court today.

“I’m not answering any questions related to my pregnancy,” she said.

Retired Jackson County Circuit Judge Charles Nelson is overseeing the trial, which operates like a regular bench trial, and asked her to answer the question.

“I don’t know,” she said. “It means that there are some medical issues that occurred and both me and my doctors don’t know.”

[BoSoxGal]

The author of that article needs some remedial grammar and writing instruction - that much I know for certain.

[Econoline]

There's an old Yiddish saying: "Ven der putz shteht, ligt der sechel in drerd."






ETA: Hi, liberty! Welcome back.

[Lord Jim]

Don't have time to process all of that right now Lib, but I did want to pop in to echo Econo's welcome back...


(By my count, you're the fourth returnee we've had here over the past several weeks... )

[Big RR]

Yep--good to see you back, Lib.

[BoSoxGal]

I just got back myself, so didn't know you'd been gone - welcome back to the treehouse, liberty!

And yeah, the sad realization I've come to is that too many judges lack integrity.

[Gob]

Hi Libsy!!

[liberty]

Thanks for the welcome back guys, but that may be a little premature; not a lot has changed in my life. My mother thinks I should retire; her opinion is: Since, I have two incomes why do I need a third. Well it is not that simple. I feel I would probably die if I quit work. It is not just the money, I get a great personal satisfaction out being part of a team and doing something feel is important. I can’t explain what I feel like when I am able to pull the dayshift guys out of a tough situation. I think it was my brother that once told me it was a good thing I didn’t go into the army because I would have probably gotten killed. Perhaps he was right and someday my enthusiasm ( gung-ho ) will result in my death, but the feeing of self worth I get out of it is something I can’t express. I can’t understand not doing one sworn duty.