Detroit Judge Caught Using Anti-Gay and Racist Slurs Gets Removed from Cases

Oakland County Probate Judge Kathleen Ryan is off her cases following serious allegations that she made anti-gay slurs and racist comments, leading to her removal from the bench on August 27th. The shocking claims surfaced after court administrator Edward Hutton blew the whistle, revealing secret recordings of the judge that exposed her inappropriate behavior.

“I just want to make it right. I want to keep my job and do it in peace,” Hutton shared in an interview with WXYZ-TV. “I want the people in Oakland County to have their day in court, with an unbiased judge deciding their fate.”

While Judge Ryan herself hasn’t commented on the matter, her legal team, attorneys Gerald Gleeson and Thomas Cranmer, say they’re ready to clear her name in the proper legal channels.

In Michigan, probate judges are responsible for handling sensitive cases like wills, estates, guardianships, and matters involving mental health laws. However, Ryan’s conduct has come under scrutiny after recordings revealed her using an anti-gay slur to describe David Coulter, Oakland County’s top elected official, who is openly gay. Ryan also referred to Black people as “lazy” during one of her conversations.

“I’m not systemically racist. I’m a new racist,” Ryan reportedly said, according to the recordings. First elected in 2010, Ryan is now under investigation by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission.

Hutton, who had secretly recorded their phone conversations for years, says it was time to take a stand. Michigan law allows recordings with the consent of just one party, and Hutton used this to gather evidence of Ryan’s misconduct. He sent the recordings to David Coulter, Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement, and other officials. As a result, Chief Probate Judge Linda Hallmark removed Ryan from her duties with pay while the investigation is underway.

As the case unfolds, many are keeping a close eye on the Michigan judiciary, awaiting further action from the Tenure Commission. Judge Ryan’s future remains uncertain, but the revelations have already cast a long shadow over her career.