Trial by Mechanism — Clutch Justice (Sep–Oct 2026)

The Series

Trial by Mechanism — Clutch Justice (Rita Williams), September–October 2026

A multi-part investigation into Michigan’s prosecutorial mechanisms, anchored by People v Peeler (2022) — the Michigan Supreme Court decision that collapsed the one-person grand jury process used in the Flint water crisis prosecutions.

Why This Matters for This Case

This evidence library documents a RICO pattern with 6 predicate acts spanning 14+ years. The natural question is: why hasn’t anyone been prosecuted?

Rita’s “Trial by Mechanism” series answers that question at the structural level. Michigan’s prosecutorial mechanisms have specific gaps — gaps that are features of the system, not bugs:

  • The one-person grand jury was eliminated after Peeler
  • County prosecutors have discretion not to charge
  • Federal referrals can sit without action
  • Civil remedies require the plaintiff to fund the entire process

This evidence library filed two civil actions and eight federal referrals precisely because the criminal prosecution pathway is structurally blocked.

Cross-References