Diane Marie Hathaway (born February 1954) is a former Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court and a convicted felon.
After passing the bar, she served as a public attorney from 1987 to 1993, first as a Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor, and then as Chief of the Drug Forfeiture Division.
In 1975, former Michigan Governor and Supreme Court Justice John Swainson was acquitted of bribery, but served a short sentence for perjury committed before a federal grand jury.
[7] Hathaway ran for the seat held by the conservative incumbent Chief Justice of the Court, Cliff Taylor.
Her campaign echoed the "change" theme of other state and national candidates during the 2008 election cycle,[8] and Hathaway's negative advertising strategy focused on a controversial charge that Taylor had been caught napping on the bench while arguments were being heard.
[18] It was reported that "The chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court (Robert P. Young, Jr.) called on a fellow justice (Hathaway) to 'clear the air' Thursday after a TV station said she put real estate in relatives' names while trying to persuade a bank to allow a short sale on a separate home."
The short sale of the Grosse Pointe home allegedly allowed Hathaway to avoid foreclosure proceedings and walk away from $600,000 in mortgage debt.
"[27] Hathaway also reportedly became the subject of at least one filing with the state's Judicial Tenure Commission, which is responsible for investigating allegations of impropriety by, and leveling formal complaints against, sitting judges.
[33] On November 21, it was widely reported that Fishman stated that Hathaway and Kingsley would fight to keep the Florida home, as well as her seat on the high court.
[38] The editor of the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus suggested that Hathaway either "clear the air," or fight the allegations "as a private citizen.
"[39] Long-time Michigan political analyst Tim Skubick called Justice Hathaway's protracted silence on the accusations "deafening.
"[40] Michigan State Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer of East Lansing told the News "If the allegations are true, then she (Hathaway) should step down.
[44] A report in the News cited expert speculation that the stay might be a maneuver allowing Hathaway time to resolve potential criminal charges, and to resign from the bench.
When asked by the News, attorney Fishman declined to cite the JTC complaint, or any other rationale, as the basis for Hathaway's untimely mid-term exit from the high court.
[51] On January 18, 2013, federal prosecutors filed a felony criminal bank fraud charge against Hathaway, only days prior to her exit from the state's highest court.
[53] Michael Kingsley was not named in the filing, which was entered by the White Collar Crimes unit within U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade's office.
"[55] Fox 2 News quoted former FBI agent Andrew Arena as saying, "I think the hammer's gonna fall (on Hathaway).
"[56] AP reported that the case will be heard by Clinton Administration appointee U.S. District Judge John Corbett O'Meara in Ann Arbor.
[63] On January 29, 2013, Hathaway entered a guilty plea on one federal count of felony bank fraud before Judge O'Meara.
Hathaway and Kingsley would not, however, be forced to forfeit their Windermere, Florida home as part of the settlement, thereby closing the civil case against that property.
The ranks of former inmates of the camp range from jazz legend Billie Holiday and would-be presidential assassins Sara Jane Moore and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, to homemaking mogul Martha Stewart.