LANSING (WWJ) -- The Michigan Court of Appeals (COA) has reinstated election misconduct charges -- related to the November 2018 election -- against an Oakland County city clerk.
In an unanimous opinion issued Thursday, the COA sided with Attorney General Dana Nessel stating the Oakland County Circuit Judge Leo Bowman miscalculated in dismissing four counts against Southfield City Clerk Sherikia Hawkins.
"Election officials must uphold the integrity of their positions. Those who abuse that commitment undermine the very foundation of our democracy," Nessel said. "While election fraud is rare in our state, our department is committed to prosecuting fraud whenever and wherever it occurs — irrespective of the political party of the perpetrator."
Hawkins is accused of fraudulently changing the Qualified Voter File after the 2018 general election to falsely show some absentee ballots were void because their envelopes didn't have the voter's signature.
In 2019, Hawkins was initially ordered to stand trial on six charges:
• one count of violating election law by falsifying returns or records, a five-year felony and/or $1,000 fine
• one count of forgery of a public record, a 14-year felony
• one count of misconduct in office, a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
• one count of using a computer to commit a crime connected to violating election law by falsifying returns or records, a seven-year felony and/or $5,000 fine
• one count of using a computer to commit a crime connected to forgery of a public record, a 10-year felony and/or $10,000 fine
• one count of using a computer to commit a crime connected to misconduct in office, a seven-year felony and/or $5,000 fine
The decision made by the COA on Thursday rejected all of Hawkins's arguments and reinstated the quashed charges of forgery, filing false records and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime.
Now the case will proceed on all six original counts filed against her in 2019.
Hawkins is scheduled to stand trial on Oct. 25 before Oakland Circuit Judge Kwame Rowe.
