Report says judge violated conduct code, campaign finance rules

BRIGHTON, Mich. (AP) — A retired judge appointed to oversee misconduct complaints against a Michigan judge says he found that the state code of conduct for judges and campaign finance rules were violated.

The report last Thursday from William Giovan says Livingston County District Court Judge Theresa Brennan’s concealment of a relationship with a detective who was a key investigator in a 2013 murder trial she presided over is “gross misconduct.”

A message seeking comment was sent to Brennan’s attorney.

After the report’s release, Livingston County’s prosecutor announced he’ll seek an order to vacate the convictions of the accused killer, Jerome Kowalski, and grant him a new trial.

The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission also said Brennan used staff to perform personal services. She was recently charged with perjury and destroying evidence in her divorce case.