Oakland County Probate Judge Kathleen Ryan was removed from her position after audio recordings surfaced revealing her making racist and homophobic remarks. The recordings were made by court administrator Edward Hutton, who described working under Ryan as a 'living hell' and shared his concerns to ensure fair treatment in the courtroom. Ryan reportedly stated that American Black individuals are 'lazy' and referred to herself as a 'new racist', expressing frustration over allegations against her character. Oakland County Chief Justice David Coulter condemned Ryan's comments, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable for someone in her position. Hutton's decision to record Ryan was motivated by years of harassment and a desire to protect the integrity of the court. The Michigan Supreme Court is currently investigating the matter further.