On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission issued a notice of hearing regarding a case involving Judge Debra Nance of the 46th District Court in Southfield, Michigan.
The hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Michigan Court of Appeals in Detroit. This follows a report filed on October 14, 2025, by Alexander Lipsey, who served as master in the proceedings. The disciplinary counsel and Judge Nance have submitted briefs addressing the report and proposed sanctions.
The case stems from events that occurred on August 20, 2019, on Mackinac Island. Judge Nance is accused of making intentionally false statements during the investigation and litigation of case FC 105. The accusations focus on three key statements: Judge Nance’s alleged failure to corroborate other testimony concerning statements made by Judge Demetria Brue, her assertion that Corporal Kenneth Hardy did not fairly listen to the judges’ complaints about Mr. Ira Green, and her claim that Corporal Hardy ordered the judges to “stand at the curb.”
The incident began when Judge Nance and Judge Brue rented bicycles from the Mackinac Island Bike Shop during a break at a district judge conference. Judge Nance experienced difficulty with her bicycle, leading them to return to the shop. An argument ensued between Judge Brue and the bike shop owner, Mr. Green. Corporal Hardy, a local policeman, intervened.
Mr. Green later showed Corporal Hardy a video of the incident, specifically an attempted grab of a receipt by Judge Brue. Judge Nance and Judge Brue were allegedly instructed to wait at the curb during the video review.
In his report, Lipsey found that Judge Nance did not engage in misconduct and is not guilty of falsifying her testimony concerning the events of August 20, 2019. He also stated that Judge Nance is not guilty of falsifying her responses to the Disciplinary Counsel. Lipsey recommends that all counts in the matter be dismissed.
The report highlights that the recollections of the events were difficult, given that they occurred months prior and were triggered by a brief video. The investigation focused primarily on the assault allegation, with limited audio recording of the interaction.
Judge Nance maintains that she considered the matter resolved when she and Mr. Green shook hands. The Disciplinary Counsel, however, contends that Judge Nance made false statements during the investigation. The upcoming hearing will address these points.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
