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Final pretrial in Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court centers on discovery and request to delay Nov. 26 jury trial
Summary
At a final pretrial for the child-protection case involving parents Faith Double and Jeffrey Patterson, counsel for the department said she has filed motions seeking an extension to provide mandatory discovery and plans to request a judicial subpoena for unredacted investigation reports; the court recessed for counsel to consult clients and did not
Presiding judge: We are on record for a final pretrial regarding the request for trial filed by Faith Double and Jeffrey Patterson. The hearing focused on competing requests over discovery and whether the court should delay a jury trial currently set for Nov. 26.
The most immediate dispute arose after counsel for the department, Sasha Thomas, told the court she and co-counsel Michelle Madeo had filed a motion seeking an extension to produce mandatory discovery and had also asked the court to adjourn the jury trial as it relates to Jeffrey Patterson Sr. "I will be submitting a judicial subpoena asking the court to ... order the department to release unredacted investigation reports that are noted in the petition," Thomas said, explaining that the reports are needed for defense preparation.
Miss Berger, counsel for the mother, Faith Double, said she briefly discussed the discovery issues with her client and that her client "is not going to object" to the department being ordered to produce those documents. Berger said she takes no position on Mr. Patterson’s jury trial at this time and noted her client had asked for a coordinated proceeding if schedules permit.
David Shealy, counsel for Jeffrey Patterson Sr., told the court he needed a private opportunity to speak with his client and said he had a "specific reason" tied to professional ethics for requesting time to confer before stating a formal position. "I have a specific reason that I need to speak with my client now," Shealy said.
Carson Howard, another attorney on the record, said he supported a short adjournment of the jury trial. The presiding judge granted a brief recess to allow counsel to consult with their clients but warned that the afternoon docket was crowded and that further delay might not be possible. The court made no final ruling on the adjournment motion or on the discovery-subpoena request during this session.
Background and next steps: The court confirmed the jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 26. Mother’s counsel agreed to waive an initial timing requirement so the court could proceed on her matter if scheduling made separate dates impractical. The department’s counsel said she would move to compel unredacted investigative materials; whether the judge will grant that subpoena or adjourn the jury trial remains pending following the recess.
The hearing went off the record for the recess; the court did not announce a final ruling before the recess began.
