Detroit Court Vacancy: Elected Judge 36th District Judge Suspended Until 2029

Kahlilia Davis won election to Detroit’s 36th District Court, but she will not assume her duties until 2029. The Michigan Supreme Court suspended her in 2023, and that suspension remains in effect. Voters chose her in the 2026 midterm election despite the pending removal from the bench.

The court previously cited misconduct in her professional conduct. In 2020, the Michigan Supreme Court suspended Davis for failing to maintain required video records of court proceedings. This action violated specific Michigan Court rules. The court also accused her of abusing her authority over a court process server. She allegedly interfered with the server’s work and livelihood. The court found she lied under oath during the proceedings.

Davis ran against three other candidates for the seat. Jo Irby, who placed fourth, argued the Supreme Court should have clarified the timeline for her return. Irby questioned why a candidate could run and win a position they cannot currently hold. She compared the situation to a doctor who can apply for a job but cannot practice until a later date. Irby noted that the court’s language suggested she could win the election but not sit on the bench until 2029.

Irby stated she did not run negative advertisements against Davis during the campaign. She preferred to compete on her own qualifications. Irby suggested that voters could have found relevant information by searching the candidates' names online. She believed that doing so would have revealed each candidate’s background and experience. Irby expressed that voters did not perform this basic check.

The 36th District Court now faces a gap between the election result and the next available date for the judge to serve. Davis is the elected official, but she remains suspended. The court must operate without her presence for the remainder of her suspension. The next scheduled milestone for her potential return to the bench is in 2029.