Report: Michigan judge suspended after recordings reveal racist, gay slurs

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Michigan judge has reportedly been removed from the bench after recordings show her using gay slurs, derogatory descriptions of Black people, and claims that she is a “new racist.”

The Detroit News reported Kathleen Ryan, a probate court judge in Oakland County, was pulled from her docket last week pending an investigation by the Judicial Tenure Commission of “internal allegations of unprofessional conduct.”

In all, six clips were shared , which cumulatively run 88 seconds. It is unclear when the recordings were made or if Ryan was aware or consented to being recorded.

Oakland County Probate Court Administrator Edward Hutton told WXYZ-TV that he was the one who recorded the audio. Hutton claims he has been harassed by Ryan for years and has been recording conversations for years, as well.

Hutton claims he has had to put up with Ryan’s commentary for years and was afraid he would be fired if he spoke up. That apparently changed earlier this year. Hutton claims he filed a sexual harassment complaint against Ryan and, after months of inaction, decided to release the group of recordings.

WXYZ-TV reported that they received the recordings, and that Hutton also sent them to Oakland County Executive David Coulter, who is a target of some of Ryan’s verbal attacks, Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement and other county officials.

“I just want to make it right,” Hutton told WXYZ. “I haven’t filed a lawsuit. I’m not looking for a payday. I want to keep my job and do it in peace. 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.”

Coulter is the target in three of the recordings. The voice identified as Ryans is heard calling Coulter, an openly gay man, a gay slur and a “skinny, white girl” who is “more concerned about the (expletive) AIDS vaccinations.”

Ryan also allegedly claimed to be a “new racist.”

“Like I said before, I was not racist before. I (expletive) am now. I really (expletive) am now. I can honestly say that,” the recording states. “I’m not systemically racist, I’m a new racist. I never was, but now I am because you’re shoving this (expletive) down my throat, making allegations that you don’t know (expletive) about.”

In another recording, she made comments comparing African Americans to Black people in other countries.

“If you’re Black in any other country, you’re doing way better. If you’re an American Black person then you are a (expletive) lazy piece of (expletive),” the recording states.

Coulter released a statement on social media addressing the recordings, saying, “There is absolutely no place for harassment of any kind or for racist or homophobic language by anyone at Oakland County, especially by a judge — someone the public must be confident will act fairly and impartially.”

Ryan has yet to publicly address the recordings. WXYZ obtained a statement from her legal representatives, who said, “We look forward to vindicating Judge Ryan in the appropriate forum.”

Ryan has served on the bench in Oakland County since 2011 . She was re-elected for another 6-year term in 2022 . Ryan was one of two judges running for two seats.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.