The battle isn't over for Grace. 

Oakland County Family Court Judge Mary Ellen Brennan is now ordering Grace, the 15-year-old with special needs, back to court, despite the July 31, 2020 Michigan Court of Appeals' decision to release Grace to her mother's care.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Read the statement below from the Justice4OurGrace Community Collective.

2. Use THIS LINK to send emails requesting Judge Brennan Recuse herself from Grace's Case. 

Statement from the Justice4OurGrace Community Collective:

"JUSTICE4OURGRACE COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF JUDGE BRENNAN FROM CASE AFTER JUDGE BRENNAN ORDERS GRACE TO APPEAR BEFORE COURT AND MEDIA LESS THAN TWO-WEEKS AFTER COURT OF APPEALS GRANTS HER RELEASE

Oakland County Family Court Judge Mary Ellen Brennan is now ordering Grace, the 15-year-old with special needs, back to court, despite the July 31, 2020 Michigan Court of Appeals' decision to release Grace to her mother's care. Grace's case gained national attention after Judge Brennan's May 14, 2020 decision to detain Grace in the juvenile detention facility during a global pandemic because Judge Brennan did not believe that Grace completed her online schoolwork, which was a condition of her probation. Throughout this process, Judge Brennan has not treated Grace as a 15- year-old girl with special needs. Instead, Judge Brennan has treated Grace as an adult and as a criminal.

After Grace's release on July 31, 2020, to her mother's care, Judge Brennan scheduled this Tuesday, August 11, 2020 Review Hearing` as an accelerated review date of Grace's “progress.” The accelerated court date is concerning because before Grace's release, Judge Brennan had not planned to review Grace's process until September 8, 2020. Forcing Grace to appear in court before Judge Brennan, less than two weeks after the Michigan Court of Appeals released Grace to her mother's care lacks any concern for the additional trauma that Grace will experience. Some would argue that since this case has gained international attention, Judge Brennan has developed a disdain for Grace. This disdain is evidenced by Judge Brennan’s treatment of Grace at the July 20, 2020 hearing during which Judge Brennan intentionally disclosed sensitive and private medical information about Grace, and refused to protect Grace’s right to privacy as a minor in a court filled to capacity with media.

Moreover, Judge Brennan will conduct the Tuesday, August 11, 2020 Review Hearing virtually allowing media access. There is no scenario in which Judge Brennan's decision to require Grace to appear in Court so soon, virtually or otherwise, demonstrates care and concern for Grace. Conducting a “progress” review in a manner in which the media will again have access to Grace's identity and her sensitive and private medical information, further demonstrates that Judge Brennan does not view Grace as a 15-year-old child whose identity is worthy or deserving of protection. It is difficult to rationalize Judge Brennan's behavior as anything but malicious especially considering that the Court of Appeals is still reviewing the case and that Grace is in her mom's care as they begin to heal from the trauma already caused by Judge Brennan's previous actions.

The Justice4OurGrace Community Collective, therefore, requests that you contact:

Judge Mary Ellen Brennan at 248.858.0355/turnerk@oakgov.com and demand that she recuse herself from the case;
Chief Judge Shalina Kumar at kumars@oakgov.com/248.858.0350 and demand that she assign the case to an impartial judge if Judge Brennan does not recuse herself; and
the Michigan Judicial Tenure at http://jtc.courts.mi.gov/file_a_grievance/index.php 313.875.5110 and demand that it investigate Judge Mary Ellen Brennan's decisions in this case and review her other cases for evidence of abuse of power and bias.

Community Collective: (Michigan Liberation Action Fund, 1StrongSister , EveryBlackGirl, Inc., #FreeGrace Change.org petition creators and other community supporters)"

Thank you all for continuing to fight. Please take action to protect Grace and her freedom.