A tense moment between two judges unfolded during a virtual hearing when the presiding judge realized that the defendant’s attorney was also a judge and accused her of ‘wholly improper’ conduct. 

Michigan Judge Cylenthia LaToye Miller was scolded for attempting to represent a family member in court. 

Miller’s family member, Syminee, whom she referred to as ‘like a daughter,’ appeared in the District Court of East Lansing for a hearing in June before Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt.

Syminee had been charged with a civil infraction for refusing a preliminary breath test and appeared before Greenwalt for an arraignment. 

During the hearing, Greenwalt asked Miller to identify herself and asked if she was a sitting judge. 

Miller then explained that she was Syminee’s guardian, adding, ‘She’s like my daughter. So, I’m only here for this limited purpose.’ 

Greenwalt then cited multiple statutes that prohibited acting judges from practicing as attorneys in court, declaring that she would not move forward with Miller representing her family member. 

‘I’m sorry to say, and I have a duty now to report this to the state bar,’ Greenwalt added. 

Michigan Circuit Court Judge Cylenthia LaToye Miller was accused of ‘wholly improper’ conduct for attempting to represent a family member in court 

Miller appeared in a virtual court hearing for her family member, Syminee, whom she referred to as ‘like a daughter’  

Greenwalt denied Miller’s ability to attend her family member’s virtual court date and rescheduled the arraignment 

Miller said that her understanding was different, arguing that she believed judges could provide ‘limited representation’ to immediate family members charged with crimes. 

Greenwalt stood her ground, declaring once again that she believed Miller’s conduct to be ‘wholly improper.’ 

The presiding judge added that Miller, appearing as Syminee’s counsel, could ‘raise the appearance of impropriety.’ 

Greenwalt then conceded that there was a precedent for judges to provide legal advice and counseling to family members, but denied that they could represent them in court. 

‘Your honor, with all the respect in the world for you, and I understand your position, that was not my understanding. It was my mistake,’ Miller responded. 

The judge continued that she had only hoped to speak with a prosecutor to resolve the matter so they would not have to hire an attorney. 

‘We’ve just buried our mother and it’s been a very expensive period for my family and I was just trying to simply get a resolution quickly to this matter if at all possible,’ Miller continued. 

She added that she had never identified herself as a judge to the prosecutor and asked that the hearing be rescheduled so she could hire a proper attorney for Syminee. 

Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt told Miller that she was forced to report the conduct to the bar and denied the judge’s ability to represent a family member in court 

Miller apologized for the misunderstanding, adding that she believed judges could represent family members in a limited capacity. She was appointed as a Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit Court in August 2019 and is up for re-election this year 

Syminee’s arraignment was rescheduled for June 22, when she was charged with refusing a breathalyzer test, according to the court docket. 

She has retained a new attorney and is scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial hearing on Thursday. 

It’s unclear if Miller faced any repercussions for appearing at the virtual court hearing. 

She was appointed as a Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit Court in August 2019 and elected to a six-year term in November 2020. Miller is up for re-election in November. 

She previously faced backlash in 2024 for bringing a loaded, unregistered firearm through security at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, local ABC affiliate WXYZ reported at the time. She pleaded no contest to the charges. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Miller and Greenwalt for comment.