Michigan Supreme Court rules to remove Inkster Judge Sylvia James from bench

Judge Sylvia James misused public money; Supreme Court rules to remove her from bench

DETROIT – The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled to remove Inkster Judge Sylvia James from her bench.

James already had been suspended from the bench for misusing public money. She was fighting to keep her position until the Court's ruling came Tuesday.

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She is in trouble for misusing $131,000 that was supposed to be restitution for crime victims. Most of the money went to community charities of her choice.

Read: Supreme Court's decision to remove Inkster judge

Her lawyer argued other judges have done the same and only received brief suspensions or reprimands, not removal from office.

James was actively campaigning for her reelection despite the legal trouble she has been in.

Sylvia James