Oakland County probate judge faces domestic assault charge
Click On Detroit
November 25, 2021
Oakland County’s chief probate judge, Kathleen Ryan, is facing a domestic violence charge, according to officials.
Prosecutor: Oakland County probate judge charged with domestic assault
County’s chief probate judge accused of assaulting boyfriend
Click On Detroit
November 25, 2021
Oakland County’s chief probate judge is facing a domestic violence charge, according to officials.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday that Hon. Kathleen Ann Ryan was arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Wednesday night.
Judge Ryan was charged Thursday with one count of domestic assault and battery, officials said. She has reportedly been released on a personal bond.
“The fact that Ms. Ryan is an elected official did not play any part in the charge that was authorized, and will not play any part in the handling or disposition of this case,” said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. “The case will be handled like any other case.”
No other details have been released at this time.
Oakland County's chief probate judge charged with domestic assault
The Detroit News
November 25, 2021
An Oakland County probate judge is facing a domestic violence charge, the county Prosecutor's Office confirmed to The Detroit News on Thursday.
The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office has charged Oakland County Probate Judge Kathleen A. Ryan with domestic assault and battery, David Williams, chief assistant prosecutor, said in an email.
The Wixom Police Department said officers responded to a 911 call Wednesday afternoon and found "probable cause" that Ryan of Wixom allegedly committed assault and battery against a man "with whom she had a dating relationship," according to the police release. The man had minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene, police said.
The release did not indicate that Ryan was a judge.
The Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday charged Ryan with one count of domestic assault and battery. She was arraigned on the charge and "released on personal bond with release conditions consistent with the offense for which she was charged," the police release said.
Ryan, who was elected as a probate judge in 2010, was booked in the Oakland County Jail on Wednesday night and released at about 2 p.m. Thursday, according to jail records.
"The fact that Ms. Ryan is an elected official did not play any part in the charge that was authorized, and will not play any part in the handling or disposition of this case,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald told WDIV (Channel 4).
The police release said department leadership and those from the Prosecutor's Office were in "regular contact" involving the incident.
"Both the Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office want the public to know that both entities have followed regular protocols and procedures for this arrest."
Oakland County Judge Kathleen Ryan arrested on domestic assault charge
Detroit Free Press
November 26, 2021
An Oakland County judge was arrested on a domestic assault charge, authorities said.
The alleged incident Wednesday involved Judge Kathleen Ryan and a man who had a relationship with her, Wixom police said.
“The man appeared to have suffered from minor injuries but refused medical treatment at the scene,” police said.
Ryan, chief judge in Probate Court, was charged Thursday with domestic assault. She was released on bond.
The court was closed Friday; no one answered the phone at Ryan's office.
She was first elected in 2010.
“The fact that Ms. Ryan is an elected official did not play any part in the charge that was authorized and will not play any part in the handling or disposition of this case,” said county prosecutor Karen McDonald, a former judge.
Oakland County’s chief probate judge arrested on domestic assault charge
Oakland Press
November 28, 2021
Kathleen Ryan, Oakland County’s chief probate judge, has been charged with domestic assault.
A press release issued Thursday by the Wixom Police Department stated that Ryan, who was not mentioned to be a judge, allegedly committed assault and battery Nov. 24 against a man with whom she had a dating relationship.
The man appeared to have suffered minor injuries, police said, and he refused medical treatment at the scene.
Police officers reportedly responded to a 911 call on Wednesday afternoon, showing up to find a man and a woman. Wixom investigators referred the incident to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for review. On Thursday, Ryan was charged and arraigned on one count of domestic assault and battery.
Ryan posted bond contingent with release conditions for such a crime.
The Wixom Police Department leadership has been in regular contact with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, saying that “both entities have followed regular protocols and procedures for this arrest.”
“The fact that Ms. Ryan is an elected official did not play any part in the charge that was authorized, and will not play any part in the handling or disposition of this case,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald told WDIV (Channel 4).
According to her resume listed on the county’s website, Ryan was elected to the probate court on Nov. 2, 2010. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Prior to joining the county, she was in private practice between 1996-2010, with an emphasis on family and probate litigation.
Oakland County judge charged with domestic assault
MLive
Nov. 29, 2021
WIXOM, MI -- Oakland County Probate Court Judge Kathleen Ryan has been charged with domestic assault following an incident between her and a man she had a relationship with. According to the Associated Press, the incident took place Wednesday and police said it resulted in the man suffering some minor injuries, but he refused medical treatment at the scene.
The domestic assault charge was handed down Thursday and Ryan was freed on bond. Court was closed on Friday and no one answered the phone at Ryan’s office when the AP attempted to contact her. Ryan was first elected to her position in 2010.
Despite her connections to the court system, officials say Ryan will not receive any special treatment as the case plays out.
“The fact that Ms. Ryan is an elected official did not play any part in the charge that was authorized and will not play any part in the handling or disposition of this case,” said county prosecutor Karen McDonald, a former judge.
Dashcam video shows arrest of Oakland County judge charged with domestic assault
Judge Kathleen Ryan arrested Nov. 23, 2021
Click On Detroit
January 07, 2022
WIXOM, Mich. – Oakland County Probate Judge Kathleen Ryan is shown on police dashcam video as she’s led out of her home after her boyfriend called police and said she hit him.
Police said he told them that “she just started whacking me” and informed them that she’s a judge and when she drinks “she starts smacking.”
Wixom police arrested Ryan Nov. 23 and the video shows she is in disbelief.
“That is crap and you know it,” she said in the dashcam audio.
Ryan remains composed until the end of her booking process when police tell her they need to call a superior to see if she’ll be sent to jail or given a citation.
“Arraigned before who?” Ryan said. “Dave law, Travis Reeds, or you know, Rob Bondy, which one? I used to own a building with Travis Reeds. Dave Law I went to law school and high school with. Rob Bondy is a great friend of mine. I’m not dropping names, but this is absurd.”
Ryan has been charged with one count of domestic assault and battery. The case has been moved out of Oakland County.
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Oakland County Probate judges hire attorney under criminal investigation
WXYZ News
May 22, 2018
She was terminated from her position by the Attorney General and she was at the center of a 7 Action News investigation. So why are taxpayers now paying the salary of this local lawyer?
A criminal investigation was launched after we exposed how some public officials and real estate brokers were cashing in on probate estates, often leaving rightful heirs with very little.
- 7 Action News Investigation prompts probate law change, protects heirs
- Probate public officials terminated, resign after 7 Action News investigation
- Attorney General, Chief Probate Judge want new rules in wake of 7 Action News Investigation
- AG suspends Macomb probate public administrator, leaders want law changed
So why is one of the public officials being investigated by Oakland County -- now working for Oakland County’s Probate Court?
The 7 Investigators first exposed probate attorney Barbara Andruccioli a year ago.
“How can the taxpayers have any confidence with you working here,” asked 7 Investigator Heather Catallo.
“Really, I think you probably need to talk to the judges,” said Andruccioli.
Andruccioli was a partner at Kemp Klein law firm. She was also an Attorney General-appointed Public Administrator: a public official with the authority to open probate estates after someone dies if there are no heirs available.
Court records show Andruccioli teamed up with real estate broker Ralph Roberts and his companies to open those estates, sell the homes, and cash in.
We uncovered court filings that show Andruccioli and one of Roberts’ companies, Probate Asset Recovery, were billing for thousands of dollars, while the actual heirs ended up with very little.
“They should be held accountable,” Joanne Zaremba told Catallo in 2017.
Until the 7 Investigators got involved, Zaremba had no idea that Andruccioli had opened an estate in her late mother’s name, even though under the law, Andruccioli had a duty to find the heirs.
After our investigation, Attorney General Bill Schuette terminated Andruccioli as a Public Administrator. And that’s not all: the FBI and Oakland County Sheriff’s detectives raided Ralph Roberts offices, and launched a criminal probe into the Public Administrators.
So why did the Oakland County Probate judges recently hire Andruccioli as the Probate Register for the county?
“How can the taxpayers have any confidence -- when you’re now under criminal investigation -- with you working in this court,” asked Catallo.
"That’s not true,” said Andruccioli.
“It struck me as the wolf guarding the hen house,” said Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner.
Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown described her reaction when she first heard that the judges from the Probate Court (which Brown and Meisner do not oversee) hired Andruccioli: “Shock, absolute shock and bewilderment… So out of having a wonderful pool of applicants, why would you choose this person who has a cloud over them?”
In the wake of our reporting, Brown and Meisner successfully fought to change the state laws that allowed this probate practice to go on. Two bills sponsored by Rep. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) and Rep. Jim Ellison (D-Royal Oak) were signed into law in February.
Neither Meisner nor Brown can understand why the four Oakland County Probate judges would hire Andruccioli.
“It’s natural that people that work together are going to get to know each other and establish relationships,” said Meisner. “The unusual part is when those relationships and friendships result in inappropriate preference, self-dealing, and lack of due process.”
The Probate Register oversees the daily operations of the Probate Courts Estates and Mental Health division.
Chief Probate Judge Kathleen Ryan would not talk to us on camera, but she did tell 7 Action News that the decision to hire Andruccioli as the Probate Register of the court was unanimous among all four judges and she said, “we’re confident in our hire.”
Judge Ryan also confirmed they hired Andruccioli at the top of the county pay scale, at $102,650. Also, in the past Andruccioli has given small campaign contributions to two of the judges who hired her (Judge Ryan and Judge Jennifer Callaghan), but Judge Ryan says that had no bearing on the hiring decision.
“I think it is a slap in the face to a lot of people,” said Brown. “It reduces confidence that justice will be served here.”
Officials from both the Oakland County Prosecutor’s office and Sheriff’s office tell the 7 Investigators that the criminal probe into the probate scheme and the Public Administrators is ongoing.
County officials such as the Clerk, the Treasurer and the County Executive do not have control over who the judges hire.
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