Friday, June 27, 2008

Judge faces alcohol charge

Judge Catherine B. Steenland of the 39th District Court has been accused of driving drunk in Ogemaw County in northern lower Michigan, the prosecutor there said Thursday.

Steenland, 41, of Roseville, is named in a complaint charging her with one count of operating while intoxicated, first offense. She is scheduled to be arraigned July 24 in 82nd District Court.

Details surrounding her arrest were not divulged. In a press release announcing the charge, Ogemaw Prosecutor LaDonna Schultz credits the Michigan State Police and the Ogemaw County Sheriff's Office for their "fine work and professionalism ... in the investigation and apprehension" of Steenland. The statement, however, included no details about the circumstances surrounding Steenland's arrest, nor any specifics on why law enforcers earned the prosecutor's praise.

Steenland's arrest had been widely rumored in recent weeks. During that time, officials at the Michigan State Police post in West Branch and Ogemaw prosecutors declined comment on the incident pending an announcement of formal charges.

Schultz was unavailable for comment Thursday afternoon at her office, and her home telephone number is not published. Meantime, the administrative office at the state police post was closed for the day.

Steenland's attorney, Stephen Rabaut, described her as a respected judge.

"I can tell you she's respected by judges, attorneys and litigants alike. She has an unblemished record. She intends to address this matter immediately and resolve it as soon as possible," Rabaut said. He declined to elaborate or comment on the allegations.

Misdemeanor drunken driving is punishable by up to 93 days in jail, but incarceration of that length is uncommon for first offenders. Steenland has no prior offenses on her current driving record, according to the Michigan Secretary of State.

The offense also carries a fine ranging from $100 to $500, up to 360 hours of community service and licensing sanctions.

Voters in Roseville and Fraser first elected Steenland to the 39th District Court in 2002. She ran unopposed for re-election to a 6-year term in November 2004.

Her husband, Richard Steenland, is Roseville's city clerk and a former councilman. Her father-in-law, Joseph Steenland, is the longtime president of the Roseville Public Schools Board of Education.

Catherine Steenland graduated from Detroit College of Law. In May 2006, she and the court's other judges, magistrate and chief probation officer were honored by the Roseville Optimist Club as part of the club's Respect for Law/Non-Violent Day, designed to influence and impress children.

As part of her statement in The Macomb Daily Voter's Guide in 2004, Steenland said: "I will stand by my pledge to administer justice fairly and diligently to keep our communities safe."

Steenland is the second judicial official from Macomb County arrested this year on suspicion of drunken driving. In January, Warren police arrested 37th District Court Administrator James Conrad. Conrad refused to take breath tests and was released by Warren police less than an hour later when Chief 37th District Judge Walter Jakubowski Jr. set a personal recognizance bond.

In April, Jakubowski rejected a request by a law firm serving as special prosecutor on behalf of the Warren City Attorney's Office, for a warrant charging Conrad with misdemeanor drunken driving. Conrad no longer serves as a magistrate in the Warren-Center Line district court, but remains the administrator of Macomb County's busiest district court.

No comments: