Judge Resigns after Jim Amberg’s Judicial Tenure Grievance

The formed Judge of the 43rd District Court in Hazel Park, Charles Goedert, resigned recently likely because of the grievance that Amberg & Amberg attorney Jim Amberg filed with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission. The reason why Jim filed this grievance was because Goedert committed many separate grievable offenses against Jim and his client during a case where Jim simply tried to conduct a jury trial. Goedert was known to be a terrible judge, highly unethical, and a tyrant on the bench. Most criminal defense attorneys who practice in southeast Michigan avoided the Hazel Park court because of Judge Goedert. And for the ones who actually had to represent people in the 43rd District Court, having Goedert was always a nightmare.

Jim was retained by a client to conduct a drunk driving jury trial before Goedert. Rather than allow any semblance of fair representation, Goedert repeated punished Jim’s client for exercising his rights, including keeping him in jail unless he plead guilty. Ultimately, Jim appealed to the Circuit Court and got Goedert thrown off the case. Keeping with his arrogance, Goedert refused to follow the Circuit Court’s order, instead sending a letter to the Circuit Court Judge complaining about her decision. Jim then filed a motion with Judge Longo, the Cheif Judge of the 43rd District Court, who then immediately released Jim’s client from any further obligations in the case and refunded all of the money that he was wrongfully forced to pay by Goedert.

Good riddance to this terrible excuse for a judge. What is most disturbing about this situation was the amount of people that Goedert unconstitutionally treated, as well as the gutless lawyers who allowed it. But Jim Amberg has never put up with judicial arrogance and Goedert made a major error in thinking he could act the way he did with Jim. After reporting him to the Judicial Tenure Commission, the Commission conducted a serious and thorough investigation, speaking with dozens of lawyers who had been victimized by Goedert. Rather than fight his impending charge, Goedert took the cowards way out and resigned. We are happy, as well is the defense bar, but there are many judges out there like Goedert, who seem to think they are above the law. We will always be happy to be their reality check.