Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Vonda Evans is defending her short work schedule, saying she is being unfairly scrutinized for managing her docket quickly and efficiently.
Undercover surveillance and court records show a pattern, with the popular judge arriving at work late, leaving early and—on some days—not showing up at all while still collecting her almost $140,000 salary.
“When your job is done and you’ve done it right, you should be able to have the ability to leave,” Evans said.
“How about that Thursday. You showed up at 10 AM, you left at 11:30,” said Channel 7’s Ross Jones.
“Okay, got my docket done,” Evans said. “Docket was done.”
When we spoke to her Monday night, Evans was defiant, acknowledging that she doesn’t always work full days, but blaming in on what she called a culture inside the court.
The 7 Investigator’s hidden cameras watched Evans over the course of weeks, documenting her coming and going from home and court—and where she spent her time on days she didn’t come into work.
“But what about the judge that came in at 9, and left at noon? Not only on Friday, but Monday,” Evans said in reference to an unnamed judge on the bench.
“I’d be happy to talk to that judge later, but I’m sitting across from you right now,” Jones said.
“But what about that?” Evans said. “If we want fairness for some, we should have fairness for all.”
That excuse doesn’t wash with Wayne County’s Chief Judge Robert Colombo, who was troubled by what we’ve uncovered.
“It’s very disturbing to me that she arrives at 10 o’clock in the morning,” Colombo said. “That’s a clear violation of our local administrative order.”
Tomorrow on 7 Action News at 6: see just where Evans showed up on the same day she didn't come to work. Plus, hear what possible penalties Evans could face if she's found to have submitted false timecards to the circuit court.
Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at ross.jones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.