May 15, 2026

A federal appeals court has ruled that 11 Livingston County jail officers cannot be sued in connection with the 2018 death of detainee John Griswold. The decision by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling and has renewed scrutiny of qualified immunity protections for law enforcement.

Khaira Howard, a 28-year-old Detroit woman who was expected to be released on parole May 27, died May 13 at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility near Ypsilanti. Michigan Department of Corrections spokesperson Jenni Riehle confirmed the death in a May 14 email to the Detroit Free Press, saying the cause remains under investigation but appears to be connected to an unexpected personal health emergency.