"The TRUTH is NOT Political Mudslinging!"

-  Debra Lux Roland, October 23, 2008

In her campaign literature, Macomb County Probate Court Judge

Kathryn A. George, in her bid for reelection, misrepresents herself

and exaggerates the truth to intentionally mislead you, the voter.

1.) HALF-TRUTH: “Appointed Chief Judge of Macomb County Probate Court in 2008”

FULL TRUTH: REMOVED as Chief Judge by a unanimous vote of the Supreme Court Justices within 5 1/2 months of her appointment.

2.) FICTION: “Judge George has 100% attendance record as Probate Judge”

TRUTH: During her first 5 years in office, Judge George missed over 270 days of work yet still collected a full paycheck every year. Attendance records with the Supreme Court Administrative Office reflect this excessive time off, even though she claims these absences were approved. The SCAO reports DO NOT reflect the multitude of days she arrived late, took 2-3 hour lunches, left early, was out of the building “on call“, or worked only 3-4 hour days during her first 5 years in office.

3.) FICTION: “Judge George’s fine work ethic…”

TRUTH: A July 11, 2008 court Order (click here to view order) removed Judge George from hearing all wills & estates cases, which include guardianships, conservatorships, decedent estate & trust matters. She now handles less than 15 % of the court docket, yet receives full time pay. Does a “fine work ethic” result in the removal of cases from a sitting judge? (Click here for weekly docket sample from October 2008)

4.) FICTION: “opponent has engaged in a lie-filled political campaign” and “the false politically motivated charges…”

TRUTH: Debra Lux-Roland has only spoken the truth with regard to what she has seen at the court. Criticism against Judge George did not originate from Debra Lux-Roland but has come from the Michigan Supreme Court Justices, the State Court Administrator’s office, the Whall Group (forensic auditing firm), and from the court employees who also witnessed what was going on in the court. The issues, such as the mishandling of Wills & Estates cases by Judge George, have been extensively reported in the Detroit News and the Macomb Daily and were not fabricated by Debra Lux-Roland.

5.) FICTION:  “pushed for training attorneys & Guardian Ad Litems…”

TRUTH: Attorney & GAL training seminars were implemented by the former chief judge, not Judge George. They were organized by the Court Administrator & 2 chief attorneys, including Debra Lux-Roland who was solely responsible for the preparation of the extensive MI/DD training materials.

6.) FICTION: "Began staff training to better deliver information to persons not represented by attorneys"

TRUTH: The staff training seminar "Serving the self-represented without Providing Legal Advice" was arranged solely between the court's administrative secretary and the Michigan Judicial Institute, not Judge George.

7.) FICTION: "Established fee schedules for attorneys and fiduciaries..."

TRUTH: Fee schedules have always been in place but were more formalized under the court's written Plan of Action implemented in 2006 under the former Chief Judge.  Judge George in numerous estate cases did stray from the established fee schedule and authorized excessive fees to guardians and conservators.

8.)  FICTION:  "...improved Technology..."

TRUTH: A new computer system, with scanning of legal documents, and improved technology was implemented throughout the county offices by Macomb County IT Department, not Judge George.

9.) FICTION: "..provided CPR training.."

TRUTH: Staff CPR training was arranged totally between the Macomb County Risk Management Department and the Probate Court administrative secretary, not Judge George.

10.) FICTION: "..arranging for donation of necessary medical equipment to assist disabled visitors to the court"

TRUTH: The court's administrative secretary contacted Martha T. Berry to arrange for a donation of a wheelchair and walker... Judge George showed up for the photo shoot!

11.)  FICTION: "eliminated unnecessary illegal staff absences"

TRUTH:  The court employees are still trying to figure this one out since no such problem existed, but the statement sounds impressive. Perhaps Judge George was referring to herself and her attendance record over the first five years of her term?

12.)  EXAGGERATED TRUTH: "Assisted the sheriff's department with  a program that diverts mentally ill individuals to treatment instead of incarceration..."

TRUTH:  Judge George had nominal involvement and assistance with this program which can be confirmed by both the Macomb County Sheriff's Department and the Macomb County Community Mental Health Department. But, the statement sounds impressive on the campaign materials.

13.)  TRUTH: Judge George admits that she is "proud of her 100% attendance record".

THE REAL TRUTH: The above statement is a slap in the face to the current and retired hard-working Probate Court employees who know that is not the truth for the first 5 years of Judge George's term in office. Numerous court files with visiting judge's signatures on the Orders, due to her unavailability at the hearings, are further proof of her excessive absenteeism.