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Residents describe fears and file complaints alleging bias by Judge Longsworth
Summary
Several speakers described experiences in cases before Judge Susan (or 'Longsworth') and said they perceived bias and limited access as self-represented litigants; one speaker said they will publish a judicial-tenure complaint online.
Multiple residents used public comment at the July 27 meeting to describe negative experiences in actions presided over by Judge Longsworth and to say they perceive bias against self-represented litigants. One speaker described limited opportunity to speak during Zoom pretrial conferences and said motions were denied with insufficient review, prompting appeals to the Michigan Court of Appeals and references to a judicial-tenure review.
A speaker said they plan to publish a judicial-tenure complaint and related documents online and invited others to share similar stories to press for transparency. Another speaker thanked Chief Judge McGivney for reducing Longsworth's caseload in response to complaints and urged the county to prioritize victims' services and transparency in court processes.
Speakers also described impacts on victims and witnesses, with one survivor detailing stalking, property loss and the difficulty of navigating court protections; that speaker said they are launching a website to collect accounts related to judicial conduct. The board did not take formal action on judicial complaints during the meeting.
