Chief justice: No quick way to sack judge

ANN ARBOR (AP) — Michigan’s chief justice says there’s no immediate way to remove an Ann Arbor judge who collects a salary despite being stripped of his courtroom duties.

Robert Young Jr. says Judge Christopher Easthope can be paid “for doing no work for as long as his conscience will allow.” Young’s letter was published in The Detroit News.

The high court can remove judges but only after lengthy investigations by a watchdog agency.

The chief judge at 15th District Court has barred Easthope from hearing cases after text messages revealed that he and a local lawyer were drinking buddies who had smoked marijuana together. The messages also suggest Easthope helped the lawyer’s firm get a $203,000 contract with Ann Arbor.

Easthope plans to resign at year’s end.