black from any other country, you're doing way better. If you're American black person, then you're a lazy piece of >> Oh, you're a Jesus. I have no use for him. >> All right, y'all can hop out of the vehicle. >> I'm not moving. I'M NOT GETTING OUT of >> What's up everybody? In today's video, we have a spoiled brat who drives off on the officers, gets busted a few minutes later, and has a complete temper tantrum. But first, I want to show you this judge. And let me just say that her behavior was concerning to say the least. Luckily, she got removed from power. Take a look at this. We begin tonight with [music] a judge who makes lifealtering decisions for families and those with disabilities now accused [music] of making racist comments and using shocking derogatory language. Thank you for joining us for 7 News Detroit at 6. I'm Mike Duffy. Seven investigator Heather Catalo joins us now with more about why an Oakland County probate judge has been removed from her docket. Heather >> Mike, a high-ranking probate court official says he's been recording Judge Kathleen Ryan's statements for years. Even though probate court administrator Edward Hutton says he's been harassed by Judge Ryan, he says he does not want this to be about him. Hutton says he's coming forward now because he wants to protect the people who have to face Judge Ryan in the courtroom. >> The honor of Kathleen A. Ryan presiding. >> Good morning. You may be seated. >> After more than 13 years on the bench, Oakland County Chief Probate Prom Judge Kathleen Ryan is out of her courtroom. Chief Probate Judge Linda Hallmark removed Judge Ryan from her docket last week, announcing that a complaint about internal allegations of unprofessional conduct was sent to the Judicial Tenure Commission. Judge Ryan was arrested in 2021 for domestic violence, but those charges were later dismissed. >> So, I guess that was the first red flag. You know, a judge getting arrested. That's not good. But there is the presumption of innocence. Innocent until proven guilty. And in this case, turns out the charges were dismissed. So, we can't hold that up against her, right? Well, it turns out that was just the tip of the iceberg. >> And now she's back in the headlines. or if you're black from any other country, you're doing way better. If you're American black person, then you're a lazy piece of >> The seven investigators have obtained the recordings that county officials say prompted Judge Ryan's removal. >> Oh, is a I have no use for him. >> She's made it a living hell in the past six years. I mean, it's it's been terrible. It's cost me relationships. I think it's affected my health. Um, can't sleep. Attorney Edward Hutton is the Oakland County Probate Court Administrator. He's in charge of running everything that's not under the judge's purview inside one of the state's largest probate courts. Hutton alleges Judge Ryan has been calling him both during work and after hours for years. And Hutton says during those hours and hours of calls, Judge Ryan said highly inappropriate things. >> Why did you start recording the calls? I just felt like it wasn't going to change. Nothing's manipulated in it. It's conversations that I was a part of and I'm absolutely willing to testify to the authenticity of every single one of them. >> I can honestly say that. Okay. I'm not systemically racist. I'm a new racist. I never was, but now I am because you're shoving the down my throat and making allegations that you don't know about. You're telling me who I am and you've never met me. you. You >> Hutton says the judge also used homophobic slurs about other elected officials. You >> and that's not all. >> A lot of times they were conversations about sexual encounters that she's having with various individuals. I mean, in intimate detail. >> Hutton says for years he felt like he had to play along and he says for years he was afraid to speak up. >> I didn't want to lose my job and I didn't want to be um in her crosshairs. It's such a David and Goliath situation. I don't have the power. I'm not elected. I could get fired tomorrow. >> And that's the thing. This probate judge was on a complete power trip. She thought that she was untouchable. Nothing would ever happen to her. She obviously had this man completely terrified to speak about it. But eventually he did, which was the right thing to do and very courageous because he was exposing himself to losing everything he had. >> On May 24th, Hutton says he sent Chief Judge Linda Hallmark a notice of sexual harassment. >> For 3 months, nothing happened. >> That's why on August 22nd, Hutton says he decided to send the recordings to the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, Oakland County Executive David Coulter, and other public officials. And he also contacted me. I just want to make it right. I haven't filed a lawsuit. I'm not looking for a payday. I want to keep my job and do it in peace. That's and 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 a an unbiased trier of of fact. >> In that email, Hutton said Judge Ryan quote has vocalized her hate and contempt for various protected groups. Once the recordings were shared with those state and county officials, Judge Ryan was removed from her docket. In a statement, County Executive Coulter said, quote, "There is absolutely no place for harassment of any kind or for racist or homophobic language by anyone at Oakland County, especially by someone the public must be confident will act fairly and impartially." The alleged conduct and abhorrent comments made by Judge Ryan merited her removal from the probate court docket pending further investigation. Is Judge Ryan fit to be on the bench? >> Absolutely not. Nobody with that much hate in their heart for certain people or c certain groups of people. I don't believe that they could possibly make fair unbiased decisions regarding them. >> And that's the thing. If this was just an ordinary citizen, no one would bat an eye because you're allowed to be racist. You're allowed to be homophobic. That's called the First Amendment. However, she is in a position of power. So, a probate judge handles wills and estates and stuff like that. So, if she sees a white person and a black person, automatically she's going to want to preference the white person because she's just incredibly racist. So, someone like that should not be in a position of power. >> I did reach out to Judge Kathleen Ryan to talk to her about this. Her attorneys sent me this statement that says, quote, "We respect the authority of the Michigan Supreme Court. However, we look forward to vindicating Judge Ryan in the appropriate forum. I also spoke to probate judge Daniel O'Brien. He says Judge Ryan's friends are supporting her and believe these statements are totally out of character for her. >> All right, certainly a lot here, but uh what's next with the Judicial Tenure Commission? >> Well, they cannot confirm or deny whether they are pursuing an investigation. There has been some reporting that suggested that the complaint against the judge involved an inappropriate personal relationship. Putin says that is not true. He says there was no physical contact. This was strictly a sexual harassment complaint about her alleged comments that started all of this. But again, he says the bigger issue here is what the judge says about people in protected classes. And he's hoping that that is what the JTC will focus on. So everybody's just sort of waiting to see what they will do. >> And wait, they did. It took almost a year and a half for there to be any movement in this case. So automatically right off the bat, she got suspended with pay. So the taxpayers were still paying her to do absolutely nothing at home. But a year and a half later, there was finally a resolution in this case. >> That breaking news from the seven investigators. A local judge accused of making racist and homophobic comments is vacating her position after being removed from her docket more than a year ago. >> It's a story the seven investigators first broke in September of 2024. 7 investigator Heather Catalo is here with what she has learned. >> This has been a long process. You'll recall we revealed recordings of Judge Kathleen Ryan making some shocking statements. Judge Ryan has essentially been on paid leave for 15 months and once described herself in those recordings as untouchable. The Judicial Tenure Commission has been investigating this for more than a year, but they did not take action against her. Her lawyers confirming to me late today that she is retiring and the vacancy for her position has already been posted by the governor's office for potential candidates to apply for an appointment to the bench. >> So the good news is that essentially she was forced to resign. So she will not have a job like that ever again and she completely destroyed her reputation and credibility. Unfortunately, the big problem is that she made a [ __ ] ton of money while she was sitting at home for absolutely no reason. They should have fired her day one, not have the taxpayers pay her salary while she's doing nothing. And you know what's the biggest problem? While that was happening, the taxpayers also had to pay for a second judge to handle her docket. Ryan has been paid for the last 15 months while she was out of the courthouse and taxpayers have been footing the bill for visiting judges to handle her docket. Now her lawyers say she is retiring and leaving the bench. Judicial Tenure Commission investigations are not public unless they reach the point of the JTC filing formal charges. Again, that did not happen in this case, so the results of that will not be made public. Now, meanwhile, I did speak with one of Judge Ryan's colleagues, Judge Daniel A. O'Brien. He said Judge Ryan was a good judge and he expressed frustration that the court was left with visiting judges for so long while the JTC investigated saying that really left a lot of cases not having continuity. So at least there's some resolution. She's retiring >> at least and I'm sure a lot of people who have been in front of her are going back in their memories and going wow >> did I get a fair shake? Yeah. All right. >> That's a very good question. Now, everybody that has been in front of her is going to look back and ask themselves, "Wait a minute. Did I get screwed over because my skin color?" Anyways, let's move on to the next video. We do have a spoiled brat who does the worst decision ever. Take a look at this. >> Do you have your license? >> No, ma'am. My house is right up the road. >> Do you have your registration, proof of insurance? >> No, ma'am. I don't have it. >> This is my mom's car. She just gave me to move move my stuff from my apartment to her house. >> All righty. Let me get your name and date of birth. >> All righty. What's your first name? >> My >> Can you spell that for me? >> M A Y A. >> M A Y A >> N G N E >> N E. and your date of birth. >> All righty. So, the reason we pulled you over is we didn't see a seat belt whenever we passed by you. >> Okay. >> And so, that's the reason for this pull over, but we're going to go over your information and we'll be right back with you. All right. >> Okay. >> So, do you have a license? Yes or no? >> No, ma'am. I don't have anything on me. I'm literally just moving down the road, moving my stuff. >> All right. Y'all can hop out of the vehicle. >> I'm not moving. I'm not getting out the [ __ ] So, at this point, the cops have two choices. Turn on their lights and do a chase and try to get to her, or they can just show up to her house in a few minutes because they already know who she is. They already ran the tag. So, yeah, it's pretty obvious that that is the safest option, and that's what they did. >> What's going on? >> Hello. >> We need Maya to step outside, please. I don't know where she >> She just She just ran from us on a traffic stop. >> Oh my god. I don't know where she went to. >> She She's just inside. I just saw her walk inside. >> That was my That was Mia. >> No, there's two of them. >> Wait, hold on. Where's Maya? >> She's the window right here. >> Her mom. Quiet. But >> really? >> BECAUSE THEY PULLED ME OVER FOR NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT YET. WELL, I HAVE MY SEAT BELT ON. SO THEY PULLED ME OVER FOR NO REASON. >> Like >> you SEE I'MING MOVING MY ALL YING MY HOUSE. DON'T BE LOOKING AROUND MY [ __ ] Don't be looking around my eye like I got search for this. You don't you can't look THROUGH NONE OF MY THAT'S MY SH MY PROPERTY. I'VE HAD A PROPERTY TAX on that. CAN'T GO THROUGH MY GET MY OUT THE BACK OF THAT TRUCK. MY [ __ ] HOUSE. I'M a I'm a >> Don't you kick me. Don't you kick me. Don't you kick me, MA'AM. >> THEY'RE TRYING TO GET MY THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. THAT'S WHY. CUZ Y'ALL CAN'T SEARCH MY THAT'S ON MY PROPERTY. YOU DON'T HAVE A SEARCH WARRANT. You don't have a SEARCH WARRANT AND Y'ALL PULLING ME OVER FOR noing reason. Talking about A SEAT BELT. TALKING ABOUT I DIDN'T HAVE A SEAT BELT. JUST A LITTLE BIT. OKAY. >> Just a hair. >> Yes, ma'am. 25 ft. Halo law. >> No. You You a You don't know about no law. You don't know a thing about no law. Swear you know about the law. >> If y'all want to get anything off the bed of the truck, go ahead and do it now. That's going to be towed. >> You can't TOW MY CAR. >> YOU USED IT FOR fleeing to elude. We're towing. >> YOU DIDN'T TOW MY CAR. YOU DIDN'T TOW MY CAR. I didn't flee in the loot. You pulled me over for no. You You're a baldhead with nothing nothing in your life. >> Don't got ain't got three officers out in this [ __ ] talking about I was fleeting in the >> How much of a brain dead [ __ ] do you have to be to do all of this over a seat belt ticket? Like it's not that serious, lady. You could have been home already without any consequences, but instead you decide to make some lifealtering decisions that are going to follow you for years and years. Get my glasses. GET HEY, SOMEBODY COME GET MY GLASSES. >> DO YOU WANT THEM TO GO TO jail with you? >> Cuz they just broke my glasses. >> Do you want them to go to jail with you? >> They get my glasses. Hand it off. I've got my hands under my glasses. >> Hands under MY GLASSES. >> Y'ALL SEE I'VE been moving all day off since I tried to do that stupid >> weak ass bro. Got to do all this stuff when I could have won. >> No, you're going to kick us. >> Um, I didn't even kick you. That's the crazy part. >> I pushed you off of me. Talking about a kick. >> All right, stand up. All right, get him. >> Oh, I don't know. When am I going to hop in that? >> Have a seat. >> How am I having a seat in here? >> I CAN'T I CAN BARELY PULL MY STUFF UP. HOW AM I HAVING A SEAT? >> OKAY, let's go in. What? >> That's what I'm saying. >> It was used in a crime. >> She drove off from a lawful traffic stop. It was used in a crime. We are towing it. >> That's what I'm saying. They talking about the one talking to most of us. >> Hold on. Let me get my stuff off the back of the truck. >> Go ahead. I already told you to. >> Now that's funny. She's recording them. I'm assuming she'll put it on TikTok to try to make them look like the bad people here, but she literally fled from a traffic stop over a seat belt violation. Like, what are you smoking? Anyways, people will believe anything on TikTok. I'm sure some people will try to do some mental gymnastics to think the cops were in the wrong here. >> You were worried about filming us or getting your stuff off? Cuz as soon as the tow truck gets here, it's done. >> I got to make sure this gets >> That's okay. It's all recorded on all of our body cameras. >> Yeah, I bet it is. that you got to deal with. >> Like, this is freaking funny, bro. >> She drove off from a lawful traffic stop. I don't know what to tell you. >> But still, she she used it. >> All right, so she was charged with fleeing, resisting arrest, and two counts of battery on a police officer. Now, that's it for the video. Thank you so much for watching. Don't forget to subscribe and I'll see you guys on the next