Michigan judge caught on tape admitting she’s ‘racist’: says black people need to ‘step up’ if they want to be treated equally

Additional videos have been released of a Michigan judge who made national headlines last month for her inflammatory and racist rhetoric against black people.

Judge Kathleen Ryan was faraway from the docket in August, WXYZ reported, after a court official who worked together with her in Oakland County Probate Court released audio recordings of her quite a few homophobic and racist tirades, calling herself the “new racist” and calling Black Americans “lazy bullshit.”

Newly released recordings obtained by the network this week reveal much more of Ryan’s racist sentiments, in addition to her belief that her judgeship and ties to influential figures within the county and state protect her from disciplinary motion.

“I hate to say it, knock on wood. I actually am untouchable. … They cannot touch me. … They cannot touch my salary. They cannot touch my work. The only thing they can do is make someone turn against me. Good luck!” Ryan is I heard in a single recording.

In one other video, Ryan allegedly said, “…with this whole Black Lives Matter thing, you realize, they’re like… everybody’s entitled and shit… Let’s assume they actually got scammed just due to color of your skin and the colour of your skin. that is America, systemic racism, it’s all shit! Thin. But don’t they even have an obligation to rise to the occasion? I mean, give it some thought, all they have to do is take a look at their history as an entire, when we’ve got little kids and dads pass away, it’s like you’ve responsibilities too. You want us to treat you equally – you’ve to goddamn step in and do the identical job! You know, you possibly can’t be a lazy ass.

Defense attorney Edward Hutton, the clerk who released the recordings, recorded the judge for years in hours-long phone conversations during which she shared her inflammatory viewpoints with him.

According to Hutton, Ryan has repeatedly bragged concerning the circle of judges she is related to and who’ve supported her previously.

“I’m pretty untouchable. So you guys really want to be ds… You have 22 judges who’re puppies. Guess what: they’ll still support me,” Ryan can be heard saying in a single recording.

Ryan, Oakland County’s chief probate judge, has served on the bench for over 13 years.

Hutton filed a criticism with Linda Hallmark, Chief Probate Judge of Oakland County in May, but no motion was taken, so he sent the recordings to the Michigan Supreme Court and Oakland County authorities.

“I have never met anyone who enjoys hurting people and bragging about it like (Ryan) does, or intimidating people or scaring people,” Hutton told WXYZ.

Ryan has been suspended from the bench without pay while the Judicial Tenure Committee investigates her alleged conduct. Commission officials are interviewing Oakland Probate Court staff to learn more about her behavior.

Ryan’s lawyers haven’t issued any latest statements since news of the recordings emerged.

“We respect the authority of the Michigan Supreme Court. However, we glance forward to the chance to vindicate Judge Ryan in the suitable forum,” Ryan’s lawyers previously said he told WXYZ.