IN RE CAMPBELL MINORS

Court of Appeals, State of Michigan
ORDER
IN RE CAMPBELL MINORS
Docket No. 378362
LC No. 24-016842-NA
James Robert Redford
Presiding Judge
Randy J. Wallace
Christopher M. Trebilcock
Judges
The motion for immediate consideration is GRANTED.
Pursuant to MCR 7.211(C)(4) and MCR 7.205(E)(2), and in lieu of granting the application
for leave to appeal, we PEREMPTORILY REVERSE the November 3, 2025 order of the circuit court and
REMAND for proceedings before a different judge. The trial judge in this case expressed views that
“experience teaches that the probability of actual bias on the part of the judge or decisionmaker is too high
to be constitutionally tolerable[.]” People v Loew, 514 Mich 158, 185; 22 NW3d 323 (2024) (citation and
quotation marks omitted). To that end, the court’s comments give rise to an unacceptably high likelihood
that the judge may have prejudged the outcome in this case. See id. Notably, the court expressly stated,
while rejecting a sentencing agreement in a related criminal case, that “I’m not reunifying” respondent
with his children, given the allegations at issue. The court again stated at the same hearing, “I’m not doing
that,” meaning that it would not sanction a resolution of the criminal case that would have allowed
respondent to be reunited with his children. These comments suggest that the court may have prejudged
the outcome of this abuse and neglect proceeding, at which the subject of respondent’s potential
reunification with his children is the primary issue.
A different judge shall be appointed on remand. This order is to have immediate effect.
MCR 7.215(F)(2). We do not retain jurisdiction.
_______________________________
Presiding Judge
Redford, J., respectfully dissents. I would deny the application for leave to appeal. I believe the chief
circuit judge was correct in his well-reasoned eight-page opinion denying the request for disqualification
of the trial judge following de novo review.

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