GRAND HAVEN — An Ottawa County district court judge is facing disciplinary action from the state Judicial Tenure Commission after pleading guilty to a charge of domestic violence last year.

Bradley Knoll was arrested in December 2023 and charged with domestic violence against his wife after an argument escalated over a young relative not getting ready for school.

Knoll eventually pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor in March 2024.

In a complaint against Knoll filed April 22, the JTC said Knoll’s guilty plea violated the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct, which requires that all judges follow the law and “avoid conduct that erodes public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary.”

A second charge in the JTC complaint alleged that Knoll “treated the police with disrespect.”

According to the complaint, Knoll threatened the Grand Haven police officer who responded to the scene, saying that if he was not subsequently prosecuted, an officer’s “ass would be in a sling for a false arrest.”

The complaint requires Knoll to respond by May 6.

The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission investigates complaints of judicial misconduct and incapacity, and can recommend discipline to the Michigan Supreme Court, which has the ability to censure, suspend, retire, or remove a judge from office.

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Knoll was first elected in 2002. He was most recently re-elected in November 2020, when he ran unopposed for another six-year term running through December 2026.

He serves as the chief judge of the 58th District Court, after being re-appointed to a two-year term in that role in January 2022.

This will be Knoll’s last term as judge, because state law requires candidates be under 70 years of age at the time of the election. Knoll turned 70 in 2021.

— Sarah Leach is the executive editor of the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at sleach@ottawanewsnetwork.org. Follow her on Twitter @ONNLeach.