Novi Judge Vows to Fight Tenure Commission’s Charges

Novi Judge Dennis Powers, a former Marine, says he’s not leaving the bench without a fight.

The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission has levied eight charges against the judge, one of three presiding judges in 52nd District court – 1st Division. A Sept. 3 hearing has een scheduled charges, among them that he falsified expense accounts and didn’t show up to work when he was supposed to, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Powers filed a 100-page response to the charges earlier this month. He said attending the conferences made him a better judge, and that he repaid expenses when he learned they were not allowed.

If the charges against him are found to have merit, his judicial career could come to an early end after 16 years on the bench. His current term is set to expire in 2016.

“They forgot I was a Marine and I’m not going without a fight,” Powers told the Free Press. “There is nothing about me being a poor judge in that complaint. So maybe they can get me for poor record keeping, but that’s it.”