Judge Recuses Herself In Macomb County v. Karen Spranger

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — Clouds of controversy continue to swirl around Macomb County Clerk Karen Spranger. On Monday, a circuit judge recused herself in Macomb County’s case seeking to remove Spranger from office. Meanwhile on Friday, a pair of court supervisor were placed on administrative leave after confrontations with Spranger.

Circuit Court Judge Kathryn Viviano recused herself, noting that she had overseen an earlier case between Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel and Spranger. Viviano believes she acted fairly in the case and could do so in the current case, but wants to avoid any perception or appearance of impropriety, the Detroit News reported.

Macomb County is alleging that Spranger lied about her Warren residency when she filed to run for county clerk in April 2016. The Detroit News reported that the Hudson Avenue home has been labeled as uninhabitable by Warren since 2012 because utilities are not turned on. Spranger claimed the home as her primary residence on her election affidavit.

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With Viviano’s recusal, the case will be reassigned within the Macomb County Circuit Court. There were no indications Monday of what judge would get the case or when hearings might start.

Away from the court, trouble continues to brew inside the clerk’s office. The Oakland Press reported that a court-section supervisor asked to be placed on administrative leave after Spranger sought to go through her purse.

Spranger wanted access because she thought the employee had taken county property. The employee called 911 after the confrontation and willing allowed a sheriff’s deputy to search the purse. Nothing but personal belongings and a few printed county emails were found, the Oakland Press reported.

The sheriff’s deputy denied Spranger access to the purse. County Attorney John Schapka told the Oakland Press that the two employees requested administrative leave and that the move was not done to discipline them.

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