Courser perjury case gets new judge

Lansing — A judge who was scheduled to preside over a felony perjury trial for former state Rep. Todd Courser has recused himself, court records show.

Ingham County Circuit Judge William Collette will no longer be involved after ordering in January that the Lapeer-area Republican undergo an exam in which Courser was found mentally competent to stand trial scheduled for May 22.

The office of Ingham County Circuit Chief Judge Janelle Lawless on Monday issued the “order of disqualification” and reassigned the case to Ingham Circuit Judge James Jamo, according to court filings.

The shift in judges comes a week after Courser’s lawyer, Matthew DePerno, accused Collette of ethical misconduct.

Courser is accused of lying under oath during a legislative hearing about misconduct and misuse of state resources related to his attempt to cover up an extramarital affair with former state Rep. Cindy Gamrat, R-Plainwell. Courser resigned about an hour before Gamrat was expelled in the early morning hours of Sept. 11, 2015.

Read more: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2017/04/24/courser-perjury-case-gets-new-judge/100860530/