Michigan Judge Kathleen Ryan AKA Courthouse Karen Suspended; Called Black People Lazy And Making Homophobic Remarks

Source: Richard Cummins / Getty

Another day, another racist public servant‘s job is in jeopardy after audio recordings captured them being an outright and unmistakable bigot.

According to the Associated Press, Oakland County, Michigan Probate Judge Kathleen Ryan, recently lost her docket–meaning she cannot hear cases–while she is being investigated for her racist and homophobic remarks, which were brought to light by the court’s administrator, Edward Hutton. Hutton reportedly has her on tape using homophobic slurs and cursing her way through saying Black people are lazy (see below for the actual and more language she used).

Ryan, who was first elected to the bench in 2010, is reportedly recorded also saying she’s actually okay with being called a racist. The only issue for her is how you qualify her racism. Confusing, I know. Here are her own words:

“I’m not systemically racist. I’m a new racist.”

Hmmm….

It’s unclear how Ryan–whose father, James, was a state and federal judge and whose brother, Daniel, was also a judge–has gotten it in her head that she isn’t included in systemic racism when she’s literally a racist who is employed by the system, but we appreciate a sort-of self-aware white supremacist.

Right?

Secret audio recordings catch Oakland County judge using racist, anti-gay slurs https://t.co/e8GooNtsao

— Steve Neavling (@MCmuckraker) September 6, 2024

Judge Kathleen Ryan was removed from the bench after using homophobic and racial slurs. The judge was recorded saying, "If you’re an American Black person then you’re a fucking lazy piece of shit."https://t.co/FIqQm3Aw4K pic.twitter.com/p1mUS8UOcM

— East Oakland Dad (@EastOaklandDad) September 6, 2024

Because why stop when you’re on a roll?

Ryan was also heard in the recording using an anti-gay slur aimed at Oakland County Executive David Coulter, the county’s highest elected official, who happens to be gay. Apparently, the judge’s bigotry was too much for Hutton. He blew the whistle on her which resulted in her being removed from her docket on Aug. 27.

“I just want to make it right. … I want to keep my job and do it in peace,” Hutton told WXYZ-TV. “And I want the people in Oakland County that come to court to get a fair shake, to have their day in court, to have an unbiased trier of fact.”

And yes, recording the call was completely legal, the AP also reported. Michigan law allows for one party consent. Hutton, in this case, provided that consent. More, he shared, Courthouse Karen had a years-long habit of calling him after hours. This call was perhaps just a bridge too far, compelling him to send the recordings to Coulter…and among other officials, Elizabeth Clement, the chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.

But no one’s trying to be totally mean to the hometown homophobe and around the way white supremacist. Her boss, Chief Probate Judge Linda Hallmark did suspend her when the tapes were brought to her attention in August, but she made sure that Courthouse Karen will get paid while she’s investigated by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission.

Quick question: Does anyone think that the suspended “judge” had never used that language around anyone expect Hutton?

Me either.

So it’ll be interesting to see how her otherwise silent colleagues react because who knows? Courthouse Karen may have her own stories, if not recordings of them. Just speculating, not accusing.

In the most recent report from the Department of Justice, there were 422 hate crimes in Michigan in 2022, over two-thirds of which were specifically identified as racist or ethinic attacks on people. A hate crime is defined, federally, as one motivated by bias against race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.

Where do judges fit into that?

And not to be petty, but about that other after-hours thing…

While Ryan looks down her nose at Black people and gay people, she might want to remember what they say about people and glasshouses, because while she’s out here living her best racist, homophobic life, her time might be better spent apologizing and making amends for that time in November 2021 when she was arrested and charged with domestic violence.

The case was ultimately dismissed in March 2022 but no one appears to know why. We do know her slapped around boyfriend wanted her immediately released but her colleagues in law enforcement weren’t having it. She spent the night in jail and was charged formally the next morning.

But see the report below from the event. That alone would have earned her a “thug” label if society viewed her the way she appears to view Black people.

From the Detroit Free Press:

According to a police report of the incident, obtained from the Wixom Police Department, Ryan had been drinking and repeatedly struck a male companion during an argument, injuring the victim’s face.

Although she was uninjured, Ryan was evaluated at Ascension Providence Hospital, and while there she shouted obscenities at police officers and hospital staff, tried to walk away from custody and told everyone that she was a judge and would be “coming after” them, the report states.

The police later heard from the victim, who told them “he wants to pick up his girlfriend (Ryan) as soon as he can,” and that “other than hitting me in the face four or five times, nothing else really happened.”

Instead, Ryan was transferred to the Oakland County Jail. The next day, she was charged with a misdemeanor level of domestic violence, given a personal recognizance bond and released from the jail. However, four months later, in March 2022, her case was dismissed although it’s unclear why county prosecutors dropped the charge.

While there doesn’t appear to be anything ambiguous about the contents of the recordings that indicate Ryan is an unabashed bigot, her attorneys, Gerald Gleeson and Thomas Cranmer, said in a statement to WXYZ-TV, “We look forward to vindicating Judge Ryan in the appropriate forum.”

Whatever — just keep racists out of positions of power. Otherwise, systemic racism will only continue to be perpetuated. 

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