Case Name: In re NETTLES-NICKERSON
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 2008-06-13
Citations: 481 Mich. 321
Docket Number: Docket No. 133929
Parties: In re NETTLES-NICKERSON
Judges: Taylor, C.J., and Cavanagh, Kelly, Corrigan, Young, and MARKMAN, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 481
Pages: 321–345

Head Matter:
In re NETTLES-NICKERSON
Docket No. 133929.
Argued June 11,2008
(Calendar No. 1).
Decided June 13, 2008.
The Judicial Tenure Commission (JTC) issued a formal complaint against Judge Beverley Nettles-Nickerson of the 30th Circuit Court, alleging 10 counts of misconduct, including having made false statements in obtaining her divorce, excessive absences, improper docket management, and allowing a social relationship to influence the release of a criminal defendant from probation. The Supreme Court appointed retired Circuit Judge Leopold Borrello to act as master in the matter. After a 24-day hearing, Judge Borrello found that 7 of the 10 counts alleged in the JTC complaint were established by a preponderance of the evidence. The respondent filed written objections to the master’s report and a brief in support of the objections. After hearing oral argument on the respondent’s objections, a majority of the JTC concluded that the respondent had committed judicial misconduct with regard to six of the counts alleged in the complaint and recommended, on the basis of the nature and pervasiveness of the misconduct, that the respondent be removed from office, conditionally suspended without pay for six years, and ordered to pay costs, fees, and expenses totaling more than $128,000.
In a memorandum opinion signed by Chief Justice Taylor and Justices Cavanagh, Kelly, Corrigan, Young, and Markman, the Supreme Court held:
The recommendations made by the Judicial Tenure Commission are adopted in part, and the respondent is removed from office, effective immediately, for having twice made false statements under oath; making and soliciting other false statements while not under oath; improperly listing cases on the no-progress docket; excessive absences, belated commencement of proceedings, untimely adjournments, and improper docket management; allowing a social relationship to influence the release of a criminal defendant from probation; and recklessly flaunting her judicial office. Costs are imposed on the respondent in the amount of $12,000.
Justice Weaver, concurring in part and dissenting in part, agreed with the majority’s decision and reasons for removing the respondent from her position as judge, but dissented from the decision to assess against the respondent any costs of the Judicial Tenure Commission proceeding on the ground that Const 1963, art 6, § 30 does not authorize the Supreme Court to assess costs against a disciplined judge.
Philip J. Thomas for Judge Beverley NettlesNickerson.
Paul J. Fischer and Thomas L. Prowse for the Judicial Tenure Commission.
Amici Curiae:
Daniel M. Levy for the Michigan Civil Rights Commission and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
Sommers Schwartz, PC. (by TeLisa T. Owens), for the Wolverine Bar Association.
Law Office of Guy Sohou, PLLC (by Guy Sohou), for the Association of Black Judges of Michigan.

Opinion:
Memorandum Opinion.
On June 11, 2008, the Court heard oral argument from the parties concerning the Judicial Tenure Commission's findings and recommendations in this matter. The Judicial Tenure Commission's Decision and Recommendation for Order of Discipline is attached as an exhibit to this opinion.
We adopt in part the recommendations made by the Judicial Tenure Commission and order that the respondent is removed from office, effective immediately, on the basis of the following misconduct:
(1) Respondent twice made false statements under oath in connection with her divorce proceeding (Count 1);
(2) Respondent made and solicited other false statements while not under oath, including the submission of fabricated evidence to the Judicial Tenure Commission (Count II);
(3) Respondent improperly listed cases on the no-progress docket (Count III);
(4) Respondent was absent excessively and engaged in belated commencement of proceedings, untimely adjournments, and improper docket management (Count IV);
(5) Respondent allowed a social relationship to influence the release of a criminal defendant from probation (Count VI); and
(6) Respondent recklessly flaunted her judicial office (Count IX).
See page 2 of the Judicial Tenure Commission's Decision and Recommendation for Order of Discipline in the attached exhibit.
The respondent is no longer a judicial officer and will not be an incumbent at the time of the 2008 30th Circuit Court election. We decline the Judicial Tenure Commission's additional recommendation to conditionally suspend the respondent.
On the basis of Counts I and II, costs are imposed on the respondent judge in the amount of $12,000. MCR 9.205(B).
This judgment is effective immediately.
Taylor, C.J., and Cavanagh, Kelly, Corrigan, Young, and MARKMAN, JJ., concurred.