Daily Briefs . . .

 Court: Ex-judge Wade McCree immune from civil suit 

DETROIT (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court’s ruling that a disgraced Detroit judge cannot be sued by a defendant in a child support case he presided over.

The decision dated Monday by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati cites existing U.S. Supreme Court law that Wade McCree is immune from lawsuits stemming from judicial actions.
 
Robert King had claimed that the former Wayne County Circuit Court judge violated his civil rights.

The married McCree had a sexual relationship with Geniene La’Shay Mott while presiding over a 2012 child support case between her and King. Some of the trysts took place in McCree’s chambers.

Michigan’s Supreme Court in March ordered McCree removed from office and suspended him for six more years if he’s re-elected in November.
 

Detroit retirees back pension cuts by a landslide 

DETROIT (AP) — A year after filing for bankruptcy, Detroit is building momentum to get out, especially after workers and retirees voted in favor of major pension changes just a few weeks before a judge holds a crucial trial that could end the largest public filing in U.S. history.
 
Pension cuts were approved in a landslide, according to results filed shortly before midnight Monday. The tally from 60 days of voting gives the city a boost as Judge Steven Rhodes determines whether Detroit’s overall strategy to eliminate or reduce $18 billion in long-term debt is fair and feasible to all creditors. Trial starts Aug. 14.

General retirees would get a 4.5 percent pension cut and lose annual inflation adjustments. They accepted the changes with 73 percent of ballots in favor. Retired police officers and firefighters would lose only a portion of their annual cost-of-living raise. Eighty-two percent in that class voted “yes.”
Voting ended July 11, and the counting was done by a private company.
Support for the pension changes triggers an extraordinary $816 million bailout from the state of Michigan, foundations and the Detroit Institute of Arts. The money would prevent the sale of city-owned art and avoid deeper pension cuts. The judge, however, still must agree.
In a statement Tuesday, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said the vote is recognition that the state has pulled together in support of the city. He noted that many people faced “difficult decisions” and said their sacrifices are appreciated.
There are tens of thousands of creditors in Detroit's bankruptcy, from bond holders to businesses that provide soap, but much of the focus of the last year has been on the roughly 32,000 retirees and current and former workers banking on a pension. 
Many retiree organizations had urged a “yes” vote, insisting the pension changes were the best option under tough circumstances. 

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