BRIGHTON (AP) — A judge says the findings of a misconduct hearing were “blatantly sexist” and is requesting a new hearing with a different judge.
The Livingston Daily Press & Argus reports that Livingston County Judge Theresa Brennan on Monday asked the Judicial Tenure Commission to reject retired Judge William Giovan’s report.
The commission has accused Brennan of ethics violations in how she ran her office and for her relationship with a police detective during a murder trial.
Giovan’s report says Brennan violated the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct and the Michigan Campaign Finance Act.
Brennan’s filing says sexism is “irreparably tainting” the findings. She also says there’s no evidence to support Giovan's conclusion.
In a separate criminal case, Brennan is also accused of perjury and destroying evidence in her divorce case.
Judge pushes back date again for opioid trial
CLEVELAND (AP) — A federal judge has again pushed back the date for a trial in some local governments’ claims against the drug industry over destruction wrought by prescription opioid painkillers.
U.S. District Judge Dan Polster said in a recent order that the trial for claims made by the cities of Cleveland and Akron and Cuyahoga and Summit counties will begin Oct. 21. Cleveland.com reports it was previously set to begin in March and then in September.
Polster also pushed back other deadlines to complete expert reports and motions before trial. Attorneys for the governments and the drug companies requested the delay.
The accusations include claims that drug companies knew about problems surrounding opioid addiction but took no meaningful steps to help.
Lawsuit over wrongful conviction gets green light
ELKHART, Ind. (AP) — A man who spent nearly 10 years in prison for a wrongful conviction has cleared a key hurdle in his lawsuit against Elkhart police.
Attorneys for Elkhart argued that Keith Cooper took too long to sue . But a federal judge last week rejected that argument.
Cooper was convicted of armed robbery for a 1996 home invasion and shooting that injured a teen. He was released from prison in 2006 after a co-defendant’s conviction was overturned. In 2017, Gov. Eric Holcomb issued a pardon, and Cooper’s record was expunged.
Cooper says Elkhart police violated his rights in a “reckless and profoundly flawed” investigation.
Officials launch ice guessing contest on Vermont lake
NEWPORT, Vt. (AP) — Vermont officials have launched their annual contest to guess how long the ice will last on Lake Memphremagog.
The Caledonian Record reports for its "Ice Out" contest, the Newport Parks and Recreation put a large drawing of a bottle of vanilla extract on a platform attached to a time clock. It will record when the facade, called "Vanilla Ice," drops into the water.
The lucky person who predicts the closest time will win 50 percent of the contest pool, which usually totals around $500.
The rest of the proceeds will benefit a park playground and splashpad project.
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