Judge steps down after exposed relationship with court staffer

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – A well-known and respected Royal Oak judge is stepping away from the bench at the 44th District Court. Some reports said Judge Terrance Brennan is retiring, while others said the move was forced after a relationship with a court staffer was exposed.

Now, city leaders have some serious concerns about the questionable court behavior. And people are asking tough questions about the integrity of the popular judge.

Brennan announced his retirement after the allegations of the affair surfaced. The staffer who Brennan allegedly had the relationship with is also working to move on, negotiating a severance package. The question now is did this secret relationship affect any decisions made in the courtroom.

Local 4 learned after a complaint about the affair was submitted to the supreme court, an investigation got underway.

Officials said since the judge is stepping down from the bench the investigation is no longer needed. Still, some believe the judge owes voters an explanation and assurance that the alleged affair did not affect the outcome of any cases.


About the Author:

Hank Winchester is Local 4’s Consumer Investigative Reporter and the head of WDIV’s “Help Me Hank” Consumer Unit. Hank works to solve consumer complaints, reveal important recalls and track down thieves who have ripped off people in our community.