FeedsJudge says she forgot about gun
The chief judge of the Inkster district court could face fines and possible charges for having a loaded handgun in her carry-on luggage at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus Saturday.
Judge Sylvia A. James of the 22nd District Court was stopped at a passenger checkpoint at the McNamara Terminal as she prepared to board a flight. James, who was traveling to a conference, was detained by airport police on the afternoon of July 28.
After the gun was discovered, airport police officers questioned the judge. Airport Authority spokesman Michael Conway said the judge told investigators that she had forgotten about the weapon, which she carries for protection, though he would not identify the judge by name.
When contacted Tuesday, James said she simply forgot the gun was in her purse and apologized for the mishap.
“It was a mistake,” she said. “It’s a simple as that. People have been known to make mistakes; I was told by the officers that I was not the first, nor will I be the last, person to make this mistake.”
Conway said James had a valid concealed weapons permit and showed it to the officers, along with a valid registration.
“She cooperated with the officers at every stage,” he said. “We confiscated the weapon, and she was released and boarded her flight.”
Carrying a weapon onto an airplane in carry-on luggage is illegal, and James could face charges or fines related to the incident.
The airport police submitted a request for a warrant regarding the incident to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, but a spokesperson for Prosecutor Kym Worthy released a statement Tuesday afternoon that said Worthy has asked for the appointment of a special prosecutor from the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, citing a “conflict of interest.”
“The conflict of interest stems from a personal relationship, in that judge James and prosecutor Worthy are sorority sisters and a professional relationship they had when prosecutor Worthy was a Wayne County Circuit Court Judge,” said Miller.
“These facts constitute a clear conflict of interest that would prevent the Wayne County Prosecutors Office from exercising its prosecutorial duties in this case,” she added.
James said she had the handgun with her because there have been threats on her life as late as last week. She said a man who had threatened her was seen near the bushes at her residence; and that a man who said he would kill her about two years ago was recently released from prison. She has at least one personal protection order against an individual who threatened her.
James said she understands why she was stopped, but said there was no intent to take the weapon on the aircraft.
James’ weapons permit is also non-exempt, which means she has a little more leeway in terms of where she takes the gun.
“I understand that everyone has a job to do, and I understand that you cannot take a loaded handgun onto an airplane,” she said. “I answered all of the questions of the safety personnel, and they were all cordial and professional.”
The incident will also be reviewed by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, Conway said.
Unloaded handguns can legally be taken onto airplanes in checked – but not carry-on – luggage, and must be declared by flyers before they board a flight. James did not declare the weapon because she didn’t remember it was in her purse, she said.
Under Michigan law, the attorney general can either elect to proceed on the matter or appoint a special prosecuting attorney.
