Murdered ex-wife, Judge Carol Irons [Kent County], on October 19, 1988.
Officer Clarence Ratliff's assault of first wife, while on duty [1975]
Officer Clarence Ratliff's murder of ex-wife Judge Carol Irons [1988]
Officer Clarence Ratliff shot at Officer John Den Boer after killing Judge Irons [1988]
Officer Clarence Ratliff shot at Officer Daniel Ostopowicz after killing Judge Irons [1988]
Officer Clarence Ratliff sentenced for murder of Judge Carol Irons [1989]
Clarence Ratliff's sentence confirmed [1991]
Judge Irons' murderer requests to be freed from prison [2011]
Judge Irons' murderer, Clarence Ratliff dies in prison [2011]
Court Upholds conviction
Ludington Daily News
October 26, 1991
Lansing, Mich [AP] - A former Grand Rapids police officer has lost an appeal of his convictions in the shooting death of his estranged wife in her office in the Kent County Hall of Justice.
The Michigan Court of Appeals, in a ruling released Friday, rejected the request of Clarence Donald Ratliff for a new trial in connection with the Oct. 19, 1988, shooting of District Court Judge Carol Irons.
The 54-year-old former police officer was convicted in May 1989 of one count of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the judge's death. He was also convicted of two counts of assault with intent to murder in connection with shots fired a police officers who had come to her aid, one count of felonious assault and one count of felony firearm.
Ratliff is serving two life terms at the Marquette Branch Prison.
In his appeal, Ratliff maintained he was too drunk at the time of the shooting to intend to kill his wife.
But the appeals court noted that those who served drinks to Ratliff before the shooting testified that he did not appear visibly intoxicated. Ratliff also was able to go to the Hall of Justice, and find Irons in what appeared to be a normal manner.
Court of Appeals upholds conviction of cop for killing his wife, a judge
The Argus -Press, Owosso MI
October 25, 1991
Lansing [AP] - The Michigan Court of Appeals today upheld the conviction of a former Grand Rapids police officer in the shooting death of his wife, District Court Judge Carol Irons.
The three-judge panel rejected the request of Clarence Donald Ratliff for a new trial in connection with the incident.
Ratliff was convicted of one count of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the judge's death. He was also convicted of two countes of assault with intent to murder in connection with shots fired at police officers who had come to her aid, one count of felonious assault and one count of felony firearm.
He was sentenced to concurrent sentences of 10 to 15 years for the manslaughter conviction, life imprisonment for each of the assault with intent to murder convictions and 32 to 48 months for the felonious assault convictions.
Those were to be served consecutively to the mandatory two-year felony-firearm sentence.
Ratliff maintained that he lacked the intent to commit the crimes because he had been drinking prior to the shooting.
But the appeals court noted that those who served Ratliff drinks before the shooting testified that he did not appear visibly intoxicated. Ratliff also was able to go to the Hall of Justice, and find Irons in what appeared to be a normal manner, the ruling said.
The court also rejected Ratliff's claim that the sentences were excessive in order to appease the community outrage over the shooting.
The court said the fact of the case, a police officer shooting a judge in a court house and then shooting at fellow officers - justified the stiff sentences.
"One could not imagine a much more severe set of circumstances for the crime of assault with intent to murder," the ruling said.
ORIGINAL SENTENCES:
MDOC NUMBER: 201810
CURRENT STATUS: PRISONER- RELEASED TO MENTAL HEALTH OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY [10/18/1990]
LOCATION: UNITED STATES PRISON
SECURITY LEVEL: V
EARLIEST RELEASE DATE: LIFE
MAXIMUM DISCHARGE DATE: LIFE
SENTENCE 1:
OFFENSE: WEAPONS- FELONY FIREARM
MCL #: 750.227BA
COURT FILE # : 8846542FC
COUNTY: KENT
CONVICTION TYPE: JURY
MINIMUM SENTENCE: 2 YEARS 0 MONTHS 0 DAYS
MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 2 YEARS 0 MONTHS
DATE OF OFFENSE: 10/19/1988
DATE OF SENTENCE: 06/12/1989
SENTENCE 2:
OFFENSE: WEAPONS- FELONY FIREARM
MCL #: 750.227BA
COURT FILE # : 8846542FC
COUNTY: KENT
CONVICTION TYPE: JURY
MINIMUM SENTENCE: 2 YEARS 0 MONTHS 2 DAYS
MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 2 YEARS 0 MONTHS
DATE OF OFFENSE: 10/19/1988
DATE OF SENTENCE: 06/12/1989
SENTENCE 3:
OFFENSE: MANSLAUGHTER
MCL #: 750.321
COURT FILE # : 8846542FC
COUNTY: KENT
CONVICTION TYPE: JURY
MINIMUM SENTENCE: 10 YEARS 0 MONTHS
MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 15 YEARS 0 MONTHS
DATE OF OFFENSE: 10/19/1988
DATE OF SENTENCE: 06/12/1989
SENTENCE 4:
OFFENSE: ASSAULT W/INTENT TO COMMIT MURDER
MCL #: 750.83
COURT FILE # : 8846542FC
COUNTY: KENT
CONVICTION TYPE: JURY
MINIMUM SENTENCE: LIFE
MAXIMUM SENTENCE: LIFE
DATE OF OFFENSE: 10/19/1988
DATE OF SENTENCE: 06/12/1989
SENTENCE 5:
OFFENSE: ASSAULT W/INTENT TO COMMIT MURDER
MCL #: 750.83
COURT FILE # : 8846542FC
COUNTY: KENT
CONVICTION TYPE: JURY
MINIMUM SENTENCE: LIFE
MAXIMUM SENTENCE: LIFE
DATE OF OFFENSE: 10/19/1988
DATE OF SENTENCE: 06/12/1989
APPEAL: ORDER CONFIRMED
MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS
COA Case Number: 120965
SCt Case Number: 92766
PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN
V
CLARENCE DONALD RATLIFF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN
Oral Argument: Y Timely: Y
PL-AE AG
24029) BLUMER MARK E
312 S JACKSON STREET
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
JACKSON MI 49201
517-788-4283
2 RATLIFF CLARENCE DONALD
Oral Argument: Y Timely: Y
DF-AT RET
(40077) BROOKS BRION J
50 MONROE PLACE STE 700W
GRAND RAPIDS MI 49503
616-235-5500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Status: Case Concluded; File Archived SCT Status: CLOSE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
09/20/1989 1 Claim of Appeal - Criminal
Proof Of Service Date: 9/20/1989
Check #: 10518 Fee: $100.00
Attorney:40077 - BROOKS BRION J
06/14/1989 2 Order Appealed From
From: KENT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Case Number: 88-046542-FC
Trial Court Judge: 16129 KOLENDA DENNIS C
Comments: VOL MANS;2CTS ASLT W/I MUR;ASLT W FIREARM;FF
09/28/1989 5 Steno Certificate - Tr Request Received
Date: 9/28/1989
Reporter: 235 - GOODSPEED ELAINE
01/12/1990 6 Notice of Filing Transcript
Date: 1/8/1990
Reporter: 235 - GOODSPEED ELAINE
02/26/1990 7 Stips: Extend Time - AT Brief
Extend Until: 4/2/1990
Filed By Attorney: 40077 - BROOKS BRION J
For Party: 2 RATLIFF CLARENCE DONALD DF-AT
04/02/1990 8 Brief: Appellant
Proof Of Service Date: 4/2/1990
Oral Argument Requested: Y Timely Filed: Y
Filed By Attorney: 40077 - BROOKS BRION J
For Party: 2 RATLIFF CLARENCE DONALD DF-AT
05/04/1990 9 Stips: Extend Time - AE Brief
Extend Until: 6/4/1990
Filed By Attorney: 24029 - BLUMER MARK E
For Party: 1 PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN PL-AE
06/07/1990 10 Brief: Appellee
Proof Of Service Date: 6/7/1990
Oral Argument Requested: Y Timely Filed: Y
Filed By Attorney: 24029 - BLUMER MARK E
For Party: 1 PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN PL-AE
06/12/1990 11 Noticed
Record: REQST Mail Date: 6/12/1990
06/12/1990 12 Oral Arg Advise Ltr Sent
06/15/1990 13 Record Filed
Comments: FILE 12TR (BOX)
06/19/1990 14 Motion: Oral Argument
Proof Of Service Date: 6/18/1990
Filed By Attorney: 24029 - BLUMER MARK E
For Party: 1 PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN PL-AE
06/26/1990 15 Submitted On Administrative Motion Docket
Event: 14 Oral Argument
District: G Item #: 0
07/06/1990 17 Order: Oral Argument - Grant
Event: 14 Oral Argument
Panel: RJD,JA ,JB
03/22/1991 24 Brief: Supplemental Brief - AT
Proof Of Service Date: 3/22/1991
Oral Argument Requested: Timely Filed:
Filed By Attorney: 40077 - BROOKS BRION J
For Party: 2 RATLIFF CLARENCE DONALD DF-AT
Comments: SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY --TO PANEL 3-22-91
04/09/1991 20 Submitted on Case Call
District: G Item #: 2
Panel: KJ ,MIK,TJB
10/24/1991 28 Opinion - Per Curiam - Unpublished
Pages: 2
Panel: KJ,MIK,TJB
Result: L/Ct Judgment/Order Affirmed
11/14/1991 29 SCt: Application for Leave to SCt
Supreme Court No: 92766
Filing Date: 11/14/1991
Notice Date: 12/10/1991
Check No.: 35970
For Party: 2 RATLIFF CLARENCE DONALD DF-AT
Filed By Attorney: 40077 - BROOKS BRION J
11/19/1991 30 Supreme Court - File &
Record Sent To
File Location: Z
Comments: RMTUR; COA FILE; LC FILE; 12 TRANS; SC#92765
11/21/1991 31 SCt: COA File - Received
Record Location:
File Location:
Comments: + KENT - VAULT
12/06/1991 32 SCt: Brief in Opposition to SCt Application
Filing Date: 12/6/1991
Filed By Attorney:24029 - BLUMER MARK E
06/10/1992 34 SCt Order: Deny
07/08/1992 35 Supreme Court - File Ret`d By - Close Out
File Location: F
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case Listing Complete
