On Monday, October 14, 2024, Macomb Daily reported that Oakland Circuit Court Chief Judge Jeffrey Matis upheld the decision of Macomb Circuit Judge James Maceroni to remain on a contentious case involving County Prosecutor Peter Lucido and County Corporation Counsel John Schapka. This ruling comes after a series of motions regarding Judge Maceroni’s potential disqualification due to a campaign contribution he made.
The matter arose from an ongoing lawsuit filed by Lucido against Schapka and the county’s ethics board. Concerns about Maceroni’s impartiality were raised after it was disclosed that he had contributed $100 to the campaign of Christina Hines, a Democratic candidate for county prosecutor, prior to Lucido’s lawsuit being filed on June 28, 2024. Lucido’s attorney, Todd Perkins, argued that the contribution created an appearance of impropriety that warranted Maceroni’s disqualification from the case.
Judicial proceedings began on August 19, 2024, when Perkins filed a motion to disqualify Maceroni, citing the donation as a potential source of bias. During the hearing, Maceroni characterized the donation as a typical political contribution, and he noted that the timing of the donation, made during a fundraiser, did not imply any impropriety concerning the lawsuit at hand.
On August 29, Maceroni formally denied the motion to disqualify himself, stating that the single contribution did not present a risk of bias and that no substantial relationship had been established between the donation and the ongoing legal issues. He emphasized that contributions to political campaigns, including those for prosecuting attorney, are permissible under Michigan’s judicial code, provided they do not interfere with a judge’s duties.
Perkins maintained that the lack of disclosure regarding the donation raised concerns about the integrity of the judicial process, arguing that it was not solely about the financial aspect but rather the implications it carried regarding judicial impartiality. He expressed a desire for the case to be reassigned to a different judge, should the disqualification be denied.
Chief Judge Jeffrey Matis reviewed Maceroni’s decision and supported it, stating that the plaintiff, Lucido, failed to demonstrate how the modest contribution could significantly influence the election or create a bias. Matis concluded that there was no reasonable basis for believing that Judge Maceroni would exhibit actual bias in the case.
Lucido is currently facing separate ethics complaints filed against him, one of which alleges misuse of county resources for campaign purposes. These complaints have drawn attention to Lucido’s conduct and raised questions about the ethical standards of public officials. A public hearing regarding one of these complaints is anticipated but has yet to take place.
Source: Macomb Daily
