Thursday, September 29, 2005

Judge holds Detroit clerk in contempt for mailings

By Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News

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A Wayne County Circuit judge on Wednesday found Detroit City Clerk Jackie Currie in contempt of court for violating the judge's order and mailing out 130,000 unsolicited applications for absentee ballots for the Nov. 8 general election.

Currie was to appear today in before Judge Mary Beth Kelly for punishment.

Currie could not be reached for comment on the case Wednesday evening.

The issue stems from a lawsuit filed by Maureen Taylor, a community activist and Detroit City Council candidate who lost in the Aug. 2 primary.

Taylor's lawsuit contends that mailing out unsolicited ballot applications opened up the election to potential fraud.

Taylor's attorney, Stephen Wasinger, said he was saddened by Currie's disrespect for the law.

"We expect the average citizen to follow the law," he said. "We certainly expect a public official to provide respect for the law."

Earlier this month, Currie filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Detroit to have the case heard in federal court, contending that Kelly was being racist in preventing her from mailing out the absentee ballot applications.

The motion was denied and the case was sent back to Wayne Circuit Court.

You can reach Oralandar Brand-Williams at (313) 222-2027 or bwilliams@detnews.com.