Former Inkster Judge Sylvia James ordered to pay $16,500 in costs to Judicial Tenure Commission

LANSING (WXYZ) - Former Inkster Judge Sylvia James has been ordered to pay $16,500 to the Judicial Tenure Commission (JTC) for costs associated with her six-week hearing before the JTC. The Michigan Supreme Court issued the order today.

7 Action News Investigator Bill Proctor broke the story that led to the downfall of James who was the chief judge of the 22nd District Court bench for nearly 23 years. Last year James was put on paid administrative leave following audits of the court'sbooks. Then the JTC issued a formal complaint against James, which led to six-week hearing that included fifteen witnesses who testified against her.

Then last July, the State Supreme Court removed James from the bench for the remainder of her term. She ran for re-election, but last November Inkster voters did not put her back on the bench. Instead they voted to give the job to Sabrina Johnson, a former assistant Wayne County Prosecutor, who had been the interim judge after James was removed from the bench.