Detroit Judge Deemed 'Psychotic,' Unfit To Hold Office
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A judicial watchdog has determined a Detroit judge is "psychotic" and considered unfit to continue on the bench.
The conclusion about 36th District Court Judge Brenda Sanders was made Tuesday by a retired judge who heard three days of evidence presented by a watchdog agency, the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission.
Sanders was on medical leave for months before the Michigan Supreme Court suspended her without pay in September. Investigators say she's unable to do her job because of paranoid delusions.
Retired Judge Michael Sapala said Sanders has a mental disability that prevents her from being a judge. Her lawyer suddenly announced Sanders' retirement during the December hearing, but it's unclear if she notified the governor.
"Sadly the evidence clearly proves that respondent is psychotic and therefore, seriously mentally ill," Sapala said in his 18-page report.
The misconduct case will eventually be sent to the Michigan Supreme Court for action.
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