Macomb's town judge isn't leaving the bench without a fight.

Lafayette Young has served as a part-time town justice since 2004. 

Last month, the state Commission on Judicial Conduct determined he should be removed from office because of the way he presided over certain cases.
 
Young said he learned of the ruling by watching 7 News.

"I was very astonished to hear it on the news...It was really disturbing to me," he said in a telephone interview Thursday.

The state said Young presided over cases involving his girlfriend's relatives without disclosing the relationship. 

The commission said Young presided over eight cases involving his girlfriend's relatives without disclosing the relationship and for engaging in out-of-court communications about the matters with his girlfriend and her relatives.

According to the commission, there was a case in which Young failed to disclose that the complaining witness was his girlfriend's daughter, and only recused himself when the defendant's attorney threatened to file a complaint with the commission.

In another matter, the judge sentenced his girlfriend's nephew to 45 days in jail and three years' probation after engaging in out-of-court discussions with the defendant's relatives, the commission said.

Young tells 7 News the woman is not his girlfriend.

He said she is a life-long friend who has lived at his home on and off over the years.

7 News asked if there had ever been a romantic relationship between them. 

"I'd rather not answer that," he said.

Young said he has done nothing wrong and is in the process of appealing the state's decision.

"Each town, especially these small towns, everybody knows everybody and I think and I feel that why should everyone recuse themselves on any case that comes through just because you know the person. That should not affect what happens in a courtroom," said Young.

The 52 year old school bus driver has served as a Macomb Town Court justice since 2004, except for a brief period in 2010 in which he had resigned.

He was then re-appointed to that position.

Young said he believes a handful of people in Macomb complained to the state about him.

He said they don't want to be the town justice, but they also don't want him to have the job.

"If there's any misjustice (sic) being given, it's been given to me and the townspeople and the town of Macomb because I feel I made a difference and I've had people come to me and say now we don't have to lock our doors at night," said Young.

Young said he's unsure if the state has suspended him with or without pay from his $7,000 a year job as town justice.

He said he has continued to preside over court procedings, but recuses himself from cases involving members of certain families.

See our earlier report

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