MARINE CITY— Macomb County Judge Catherine Steenland has been arraigned on two misdemeanor criminal charges in connection with a hit-and-run collision that occurred in Roseville last September. Steenland, 51, was arraigned on Monday in the 72nd District Court in Marine City before Judge Michael Hulewicz.

On September 25, 2017, at approximately 8:30 p.m., police officers were dispatched to a hit and run incident at Gratiot near McKinnon Street in Roseville. The officers spoke to a 31-year-old Roseville man, who alleged that a woman driving a red sedan hit his car and drove away. The victim provided the officers with the driver’s license and description of the woman. Civilian witnesses also observed the incident. Investigation by the Michigan State Police identified Steenland as the suspect in the case.

On Aug. 23, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Steenland with one count each of failure to stop at the scene of a personal injury accident, a one year misdemeanor, and failure to report an accident, a 90 day misdemeanor.

On January 19, the case was referred to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office by the Office of the Attorney General after Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith recused his office from the case. WCPO requested investigative work from the Michigan State Police that was necessary to the review of the case and to make a charging decision. 

“The alleged actions of this judge are disturbing,” Worthy said in a press release. “A judge is the ultimate example of one who should be held to the highest standards of the law.”

Steenland is scheduled to appear in court again on September 28.