The Michigan Supreme Court voted 5-2 to overturn Wayne County Judge Michael Callahan's decision to keep an African-American woman on a jury in a wrongful death lawsuit, Anthony Pellegrino v. Ampco System Parking. Judge Callahan kept the African American woman on the jury in order to ensure racial balance, but the MSC calls that decision unconstitutional discrimination. The MSC's opinion also nullified the lawsuit's $14.9 million verdict.
The MSC overturned an earlier Court of Appeals decision in favor of Judge Callahan, and suggested that a new judge be assigned to oversee a second trial, and that the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission may need to review Judge Callahan's actions.
Download Michigan Supreme Court Opinion - Pellegrino
Read coverage of the opinion in the Detroit Free Press
Read coverage of the opinion in The Detroit News
Posted by Samantha Meinke
