Detroit voters elect suspended judge who cannot serve until 2029
Kahlilia Davis won nearly 84,000 votes for the 36th District Court despite a six-year suspension that bars her from the bench.
By Sarah Montgomery ·
Detroit residents cast ballots for Kahlilia Davis to the 36th District Court this week, but a legal ban prevents her from taking the seat. The Michigan Supreme Court suspended Davis in 2023 for six years, meaning she cannot assume the role until 2029. She still received nearly 84,000 votes in the recent election.
The court found Davis guilty of repeated misconduct during her time on the bench. Specific findings included intentionally disconnecting courtroom recording equipment and mishandling contempt cases. The court also noted that she used an unauthorized handicap parking placard and threatened colleagues with Bible verses.
Davis remained on the ballot despite a 2024 ruling that ordered the secretary of state to remove her name. In 2026, Davis filed a lawsuit challenging that decision. A judge subsequently ruled that she could run and instructed the state to recheck her filings. This procedural reversal allowed her name to appear in the recent vote.
Some voters said they were unaware of the suspension before casting their ballots. Jeffrey Williams, a Detroit voter, stated that the campaign did not advertise the ban. He argued that voters needed to know she could not serve so they could decide whether to support another candidate.
James Stephens, another voter, said he might have researched her background if he had known she was the suspended judge in question. When asked if that information would have changed his vote, Stephens answered directly that it would have made a difference.
The 36th District Court’s chief judge said the court will contact the State Court Administrative Office to seek guidance on the election results. The office declined to comment on the matter. The court said it would follow up once it received direction on how to proceed.
Davis’s suspension stems from the 2023 Michigan Supreme Court decision. The six-year term runs from that date, setting 2029 as the earliest year she could potentially serve if re-elected or appointed. The current victory does not alter the start date of the suspension.
