Livingston County District Court Judge Theresa Brennan has been removed from cases until further notice. County Chief Judge Miriam Cavanaugh made the decision to reassign Brennan following the filing of a 66-page complaint against Brennan by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission.
The most serious allegation against Brennan is that she failed to disclose a relationship with a police officer who was a witness in a murder case that she presided over. Investigators say Brennan had 239 phone calls with state police Sgt. Sean Furlong over a 14-month period while Furlong was involved in a murder case before her. Brennan and Furlong acknowledged having an affair, but insist it began after the trial.
State Representative Joe Hune has called for Brennan's resignation. "She could end this terrible charade that's happening within her courtroom. We could just get beyond it if she would just leave office, resign, and be done," says Hune.
Brennan has also been accused of failing to disclose a friendship with an attorney who argued cases in front of her, using her judicial staff for personal shopping and errands, and in general bullying people who worked with her.
