AFSCME Calls for Removal of Wayne County Circuit Court Chief Judge Kelly

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-05-2007/0004657061&EDATE=

Union Supports Judge Thomas, Opposes Privatizing Friend of Court

DETROIT, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Albert Garrett, President
of Michigan Council 25 of the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, issued the following statement
regarding developments in the Wayne County Circuit Court:

"Chief Judge Mary Beth Kelly is out of control and conducting herself
outrageously," stated Garrett. "She is a disgrace to the bench and to our
County, and she must be removed from the bench to preserve the rights of
the people of Wayne County.

"Judge Deborah Thomas has questioned the lack of African Americans on
jury panels. Rather than support this inquiry and the rights of all the
people of our community, Judge Kelly has arrogated to herself the sole
ability to hear such challenges," continued Garrett. "Judge Thomas is now
under further attack and facing charges before the all-white Judicial
Tenure Commission.

"In addition, Judge Kelly is using the power and prestige of her
judicial seat to promote irresponsible and irrational proposals such as
privatizing the Friend of the Court department," added Garrett. "It is time
for the people of Wayne County to assert themselves and remove Mary Beth
Kelly from the bench as the first step in depoliticizing and restructuring
our judicial system, including the Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme
Court, and the Judicial Tenure Commission."

The Coalition to Restore Justice in Michigan, which includes Michigan
AFSCME Council 25, will conduct two demonstrations on Monday, September 10,
2007: at 11:00 AM outside the Judicial Tenure Commission Meeting at 3034
West Grand Boulevard, and from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 PM at the Coleman A.
Young Municipal Center at Woodward and Jefferson, both in Detroit.

Albert Garrett also serves as Vice President of AFSCME International.
Michigan AFSCME Council 25 represents more than 90,000 public workers
across Michigan. AFSCME International represents 1.4 million public workers
nationwide. News releases issued by Michigan AFSCME Council 25 are
available at http://www.miafscme.org/Releases.htm.