Detroit Elects Judge Under Six-Year Suspension

Voters chose Kahlilia Davis for a 36th District Court seat despite a Michigan Supreme Court suspension that may keep her off the bench until 2029.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a stately limestone civic building with a flagpole against a pale sky, evoking the institutional weight of the judiciary. — Voters in Detroit elected Kahlilia Davis to a 36th District Court seat on Nov. 3, even though the Michigan Supreme Court suspended her for six years without pay. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should voters be able to elect judges who are under court-ordered suspension?

Detroit voters elected Kahlilia Davis as a 36th District Court judge on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Davis is subject to a six-year suspension without pay that the Michigan Supreme Court ordered on June 23, 2023.

Why it matters

The Michigan Supreme Court found that Davis abused her contempt power, including unlawfully jailing a process server, flashed her judge's badge to avoid a citation, and intentionally ignored orders from her chief judge. Her election raises questions about how the court will handle a judge who cannot take the bench during the suspension.

Davis finished second among the candidates, more than 3,000 votes ahead of the third-place finisher and more than 30,000 ahead of the fourth. The Michigan Supreme Court's six-year suspension, ordered June 23, 2023, remains in effect and is without pay.

The players

Kahlilia Davis

Davis is a former Detroit-area judge whose conduct led the Michigan Supreme Court to impose a six-year suspension.

Michigan Supreme Court

The Michigan Supreme Court is the state's highest court and ordered the suspension after finding judicial misconduct.

The details

Voters were asked to pick three candidates for the open judgeships, and Davis was one of four names listed. In June, Michigan's Court of Claims ruled that the Supreme Court order did not bar her from appearing on the ballot, though the order states she cannot exercise the office until the suspension expires.

June 23, 2023: Michigan Supreme Court orders Davis' suspension
June 2026: Court of Claims rules Davis may appear on the ballot
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Voters elect Davis to the 36th District Court
2029: Suspension expected to end, according to Davis' lawyer's interpretation

Legal Context

The Michigan Supreme Court's authority to suspend judges for misconduct is now being tested by voters choosing a judge the court has suspended. The outcome highlights how judicial discipline interacts with the electoral process in Michigan.

Detroit residents who appear before the 36th District Court may face scheduling changes while the court seeks direction on its workload. The suspension means the elected judge cannot take the bench until the order expires.

The takeaway

Electing a judge is not the same as seating one, and voters should check whether a candidate can actually serve. Residents can follow the 36th District Court's response to the suspension for changes to its caseload.

What happens next

The 36th District Court plans to seek direction from the State Court Administrative Office regarding its workload, and the suspension is expected to end in 2029.