On Friday, March 10, 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court appointed Alexander Lipsey, judge for the 9th Circuit Court in Kalamazoo County, as the master to hear the misconduct complaint against Demetria Brue, a judge of the 36th District Court in Michigan.
The case is entitled “In the matter of Demetria Brue” with case no. 165049.
On November 23, 2022, 36th District Court Judge Dementia Brue was charged by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, through formal complaint no. 105, with alleged misconduct that involved a dispute between the former and a bike shop. Allegedly, after judge Brue rented bicycles from the Mackinac Island Bike Shop on Main Street for herself and a colleague (judge Nance), she and the bike shop staff had an argument over some problems with the rented bicycles. Judge Brue, during the exchange of arguments, charged the supervisor with assault.
Following the allegations, judge Brue filed an answer to the disciplinary charges against her. In her answer, the 36th district court judge clarified that it was the supervisor who was rude and condescending to them when she just requested assistance for the broken bicycles. Moreover, in the issue that she knowingly made a false statement to the officers when they arrived at the incident, judge Brue denied such allegations.
The filing states:
“There had been a problem with the bike assigned to Respondent’s colleague who was also African-American and a judge. Respondent does not recall ever speaking to anyone who identified himself as a supervisor, A white employee rode the bike around in a circle on the sidewalk. “The white employee who rode the problem bike around in a circle indicated that there was nothing wrong with it. One of the white employees went inside the bike shop and brought out who was later known as the owner, Mr. Green (who was also white) came out, he was rude and condescending towards Respondent and her colleague. He stated that there was nothing wrong with the bike assigned to the Respondent’s colleague. He accused them of wanting a “free ride.”
The filing continues:
“Respondent never knowingly made a faälse statement to the officers when the incident occurred on Mackinac Island and never intentionally made false statements to the Commission in her answer to the request for an investigation. It is worthy to note that on March 27, 2022, Respondent filed her answer to a 28-day letter, her answer with attachments is approximately an inch-and-a-half thick.”
Judge Brue believes that she did not engage in any improper or irresponsible conduct. She also emphasized that the formal complaint against her has no genuine issue as to any material fact.
In relation to this complaint, on March 10, 2023, the court issued an order rescinding its December 16, 2022 decision appointing Honorable Lita Popke as the master in the said case. Instead, it appointed Honorable Lipsey as a replacement.
The Order states:
“On the order of the Court, the Court’s order of December 16, 2022, appointing the Honorable Lita Popke as Master, in this case, pursuant to the request of the Judicial Tenure Commission is RESCINDED, and the Honorable Alexander Lipsey is hereby appointed Master to hear Formal Complaint No. 105 in her stead.”
Judge Brue’s courtroom is located at 421 Madison St, Detroit, MI 48226, and can be reached at 313-965-5678. Her bio can be found here.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
