Brittany Johnson has been appointed as the new judge for the 23rd District Court in Taylor, Michigan. Her appointment comes after former Judge Joseph Slaven resigned while facing two separate investigations regarding his conduct.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer selected Johnson for the position, and her appointment was confirmed by the Michigan Supreme Court. Whitmer stated, “… I am proud to appoint Brittany Johnson to the bench. As a skilled legal professional, Brittany brings years of experience to her new role. I am confident she will serve the people of Michigan admirably and uphold the rule of law.”
Johnson will complete Slaven’s current term, which ends on January 1, 2027. She is now only the sixth person—and second woman—to serve on Taylor’s court since its establishment. The previous judges include Anthony Nicita, William Sutherland, Geno Salomone, Joseph Slaven, and current Chief Judge Victoria Shackelford.
A resident of Taylor, Johnson previously worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney with Wayne County since 2019. Her earlier roles included serving as a law clerk in Dearborn and as a legislative extern at the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. She also sits on the board of the Government Bar Association.
Johnson holds a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law, a Master of Social Work from MSU, and a Bachelor of Science in psychology and criminal justice from Grand Valley State University.
Slaven resigned following complaints from both the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission (JTC) and an investigation by Taylor’s Board of Ethics regarding his behavior while in office. Allegations against him included using his judicial position to support another candidate, berating Chief Judge Shackelford publicly, making obscene gestures at courthouse cameras multiple times, recording conversations without consent, refusing to wear his robe when required, concealing his face during virtual hearings despite rules against it, and driving with expired license plates.
In response to these allegations before resigning, Slaven claimed that some actions were meant to show that others were spying on him within the court system. He resigned days before a scheduled tenure commission hearing; this led investigators to assume validity for all allegations presented against him.
The JTC recommended that Slaven be prohibited from holding any judicial office for six years—a recommendation awaiting approval by the Michigan Supreme Court.
