Apparently frustrated that the investigation into Livingston County District Court Judge Theresa Brennan is moving at “glacial speed,” and that the statue of limitations on some of the matters under investigation may soon “leave them in the dust,” retired Circuit Court Judge Daniel A. Burress filed a petition for a grand jury investigation today.
In 2013, Judge Brennan presided over the double murder trial of Jerome Kowalski, who was found guilty of murdering his brother and sister-in-law. Brennan had an affair with the lead investigator in the case, Michigan State Police Lt. Sean Furlong – an affair that Brennan and Furlong said didn’t start until after the murder trial.
The allegations stem from filings in Brennan’s divorce proceedings.
The Michigan State Police and the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission are investigating. In May 2017, police burst into Brennan’s courtroom while she was in session and seized all the computers and other items.
No charges have yet been brought.
In his petition, Burress, who is also former chief judge in Livingston County, claims that the “allegations brought out in (Brennan’s) divorce proceedings, and this alleged info in the search warrant affidavit, reveal the possibility of violations of criminal laws of the State of Michigan involving perjury; misconduct in office; obstruction of justice; wrongful use of county/court property and employees for personal use, use of court property and personnel in arranging flights, use of court personnel to do personal work at (Judge Brennan’s) home on county time, and perhaps others.”
Burress wrote that “in the interest of justice and to protect the integrity and respect for our legal system, a grand jury must be authorized in order to complete a proper investigation.”
You can read Retired Circuit Court Judge Daniel A. Burress’ petition by clicking here.
