Like Breck, Schwartz is being forced off the bench at the end of this year. The state law includes an exception for visiting judges, who are intended to be used as temporary substitutes. This week, Breck will formalize his bid to head a new drug court in Oakland County. Breck and Chief Judge Barry Howard will ask the Supreme Court administrator's office to consider a plan to beef up Oakland County's court system that includes a rehabilitation-focused drug court. We're just increasing the building of prisons, at a tremendous cost to the taxpayers.
Jails are always full.
They're not getting the help they need. Breck found David Ryan guilty of selling more than two pounds of cocaine to an undercover police officer. Breck gave Ryan seven to 30 years in prison, triggering an avalanche of criticism from prosecutors and police. Every citizen has to abide by the law, and the judge is not a god above the law. Ex-prosecutor Thompson declined to be interviewed for this story.