Snyder must face his accusers.

November 5, 2021

By Ron Fonger

Genesee District Court Judge William H. Crawford listens to arguments during a hearing in the criminal Flint water crisis case of former Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 in Genesee District Court in Flint.

The hushed conversation (click here) lasted less than 2 minutes, but Genesee District Court Judge William Crawford made himself clear to an attorney representing former Gov. Rick Snyder earlier this week.

Crawford wants Snyder to appear in person when Flint water prosecutors and his attorneys appear in his courtroom in the future as the willful neglect of duty case against him unfolds.

“Everybody else has to be here,” the judge told attorneys involved in the case after asking the lawyers to approach the bench at the start of a motion hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 3.

Crawford allowed attorneys to argue Snyder’s motion for an evidentiary hearing Wednesday without the former governor present after his attorney, Brian Lennon, said he had been under the impression his client did not need to appear in court.

“It’s very clear now,” Lennon told the judge after the brief conference....