DEARBORN — Members of the Congress of Arab American Organizations (CAAO) on Wednesday decided in a meeting at the Lebanese American Heritage Club to file a grievance with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission against 19th District Court Judge Richard Wygonik.

19th District Court Judge Richard Wygonik

Several members pledged money to go toward retaining attorney Phil Thomas to file the complaint.
The judge has faced pressure to apologize to the Arab American community since July over alleged disparaging comments made during a conversation with Dearborn Heights City Councilman Tom Berry.

An angry email message circulated by Berry after the conversation quoted the judge’s wife, Adrenne Wygonik, as having said “Arab parents don’t know how to raise kids, letting them run around, starting trouble everywhere they go.”

Berry alleges that Wygonik agreed, saying “Yeah, especially those from Salina and Fordson.”

Four letters written over several months by Wygonik’s representatives to address the issue were rejected by CAAO because they did not offer a clear apology.

The alleged comments have angered many, particularly because the judge received widespread Arab American support during his election in 2006.

Attorney Noel Saleh, an Arab American who has represented Wygonik in the matter, said he is confident the judge will not be found guilty of misconduct.

“I think that it will be a futile effort on their part and Judge Wygonik looks forward to having his name cleared,” Saleh said.

CAAO members said another well-known elected official was present when the alleged comments were made and has indicated privately that, if called to testify, he would verify Berry’s claims.

Wygonik admits to having made negative comments during the conversation about former Dearborn businessman Talal Chahine, who owned the La Shish restaurant chain before fleeing the country after being indicted on tax evasion charges, but denies he said anything negative about Arab American parents or students.

Some at the Wednesday meeting said Wygonik has attempted to divide segments of the community by offering a magistrate position to Arab American attorney Helal Farhat.

Farhat, who initially accepted the offer, said Thursday he is reviewing his decision, in part because of community pressure.

Farhat drafted a letter in July signed by several Arab American lawyers who have appeared in Wygonik’s court, attesting to a record of fair treatment toward them and their clients.

He said Thursday he was never asked by Wygonik to draft the letter.

“I put forth the offer to write the letter,” he said.

Attorney Tim Attallah, one of the lawyers who signed the document, said he signed it after being invited to Wygonik’s chambers while in the Dearborn courthouse.

He said it was signed in the presence of Wygonik and Farhat, with the view that in the few times he had been heard in Wygonik’s courtroom, the judge never displayed any prejudice.

“He’s still a fairly new judge but… Has he ever disrespected or been rude to me or my clients? No,” Attallah said.

Ali Baleed Almaklani, of the of the Yemeni American Benevolent Association, said at the Wednesday CAAO meeting that even if Farhat became a magistrate under Wygonik, the appointment would not resolve the judge’s issue with the Arab American community, nor would it cause any internal rifts.

“As long as we are fighting for our community, we don’t have to worry about that,” he said.