Sovereign Citizen Mocks the Court — Judge’s Reaction Is UNREAL!

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]Mr. Mr. Shaw, you have more wasted too much time with you.

[00:00:04]Yes or no? So sir, don't argue with me.

[00:00:07]This exchange perfectly captures why these hearings spiral out of control.

[00:00:11]The defendant keeps demanding the court define its jurisdiction in hyper-specific terms. Admiralty, common law, statutory authority.

[00:00:21]While the judge is trying to drag the conversation back to basic criminal procedure. And notice the frustration building on both sides. The judge sees stalling tactics. The defendant thinks he's exposing a legal flaw. Neither side is backing down.

[00:00:36]Yes or no? Are we doing a preliminary exam today? Yes or no?

[00:00:40]>> I object. I will address >> Answer the question. I want to address other issues as well.

[00:00:45]>> You're in contempt of court. Put him in jail.

[00:00:47]For what? For contempt [laughter] of court. I haven't I'm having You can appeal that, too.

[00:00:54]Sentence is 30 days. I'm sorry. I won't say it.

[00:00:57]Judge, if I may try to help explain.

[00:00:59]Try. I'll try.

[00:01:01]Um Mr. Michaud uh is a sovereign citizen and I know who I am.

[00:01:07]I'm not a sovereign citizen. All right, sir. Don't speak.

[00:01:09]>> I may be in not I'm phrasing that correctly.

[00:01:11]>> Don't speak until I ask you to speak.

[00:01:13]But there is a difference between Frank Michaud uh or I think it is Mr. Michaud's assertion that there is a difference between the natural person, Mr. Frank Michaud, and the sort of legal entity >> I don't recognize that. And that's what I've I've prepared Mr. Michaud for that. Uh Sir, you're a defendant in my courtroom. Either I issue a bench warrant because you haven't appeared, or you come up here and sit in the chair and we proceed.

[00:01:39]All right. So you're threatening me to Absolutely, I'm threatening you. Either you're here today or you're not. If you're not here today, a bench warrant will issue. If you're here today, I need you in the chair so we can proceed with the proceeding that's scheduled, which is a preliminary exam. And if I may, I I have advised Mr. Michaud that um the courts you objections all the time or rule objections they are preserved on the record if he has >> He can appeal me. I'll let I'll let you build whatever record you want to build, Mr. Michelle.

[00:02:04]>> Are we going over it? Yes. Are you honoring your oath to the Constitution?

[00:02:07]Hold on. Are you picking him up?

[00:02:10]That's one of the reasons I want you up here with this little microphone here.

[00:02:13]Oh, I'll speak louder.

[00:02:14]Are you picking him up?

[00:02:16]Yes. Go ahead.

[00:02:17]Are you honoring your oath to the Constitution today?

[00:02:21]Pardon me? Are you honoring your oath to the Constitution? You never took an oath I didn't swear an oath to the Constitution. You haven't >> I took an oath that said I would follow the Constitution. So, you're not upholding the Constitution? Yes, follow the Constitution. So, you are upholding your oath to the Constitution? Yes.

[00:02:37]Thank you. I accept your oath. Thank you. Okay.

[00:02:39]>> [clears throat] >> Now, I have Sir, get your ass in the chair or leave and I'll issue a bench warrant. You're not running the courtroom, I am. If you want to have an exam today, get your ass in the chair.

[00:02:51]That's the way it works.

[00:02:54]I reserve all my rights.

[00:02:55]I would have nothing less. I reserve all my rights.

[00:03:00]Now, are you representing yourself today?

[00:03:03]I'll present myself.

[00:03:04]That's not what I asked you.

[00:03:06]Are you representing yourself or is this gentleman going to be your lawyer for today's proceeding?

[00:03:11]>> I will be presenting my my myself today.

[00:03:15]May May >> All right, so that's a no. You don't want him to represent you?

[00:03:20]No, he's For the record, he's not my lawyer. I don't have an attorney. I'll present myself.

[00:03:24]>> Okay.

[00:03:27]Judge, uh what I have recommended to Mr. Michelle is that he has a jurisdictional argument that he wants to to make.

[00:03:35]Um and that, you know, pending your honor's ruling on that jurisdictional issue, I have prepared for uh to conduct a preliminary exam >> Okay. and and could be, you know, available if he wanted to ask me to do that at the appropriate time.

[00:03:51]>> So, you want to represent yourself for that jurisdiction argument and if I rule against you then perhaps you want him to represent you. Is that what I'm hearing?

[00:03:58]No, that's I Yeah, that's not what you're hearing. Right, so you don't want him at all under any circumstance. Uh no, I don't have I don't need an attorney for the record. Okay.

[00:04:09]So with that being said Well, hold on.

[00:04:12]You can stick around if you want to, but I'm not going to obligate you to stay.

[00:04:16]I understand, judge. I I'm definitely going to stay. That's fine.

[00:04:20]>> [laughter] >> Right. So today Do you have a jurisdictional argument you want to make? Well, I I I served notice Sir, it's a yes or no. Do you have a jurisdictional argument you'd like to make today?

[00:04:31]I have a warrant >> Yes or no. I Why are you forcing me to say ask >> Because I'm running the courtroom and it's the way I want to do it. Do you have a jurisdictional argument you'd like to make today? I do. Yes. Then make it. What's your jurisdictional argument?

[00:04:45]I'm I'm presenting myself. So I need to know Article 6 of the Constitution grants me the right to know what jurisdiction is this court operating up under. State of Michigan. No, what jurisdiction? State of Michigan. Okay, what jurisdiction is this? State of District courts are legislative courts.

[00:05:01]That means they're created by statute.

[00:05:02]The state of Michigan gives me my jurisdiction. So okay, is that I work under the authority of the state of Michigan.

[00:05:10]>> What is it? Under what jurisdiction?

[00:05:11]There's two different jurisdictions under the Constitution. You have admiralty and a common law. So I'll need to know >> This is not admiralty. What is >> And it's not common law. It's statutory.

[00:05:22]Okay, so a statutory that is what?

[00:05:23]Civil? No. So what is it?

[00:05:26]My jurisdiction is both civil Okay, I defend myself unless I have an attorney.

[00:05:30]My jurisdiction There's only two Shut up. If you ask me a question I can't answer while you're talking.

[00:05:36]My jurisdiction is both civil and criminal as provided by the statutes of the state of Michigan. Okay, so today under what which one is >> This is a criminal case. Okay, right.

[00:05:48]So, is that common law or admiralty?

[00:05:52]It's statute. It's neither common law or admiralty.

[00:05:55]>> It's It's It's one or the other. It don't say statute or >> then you can appeal my ruling. My ruling is it's neither admiralty or common law.

[00:06:02]So, this is a You say it's criminal for the record. Yes. Okay, and if it's criminal, in order for a proper arrest, there must be an injured party for the record, right?

[00:06:10]>> There must be what?

[00:06:11]>> An injured party. Yeah, it's the people of the state of Michigan.

[00:06:15]All right, so it's the people of the state of Michigan, right?

[00:06:19]Where is this sworn statement? Where's what?

[00:06:22]>> A sworn statement. I have a right to see a sworn statement saying I entered someone. There's a complaint in the file. Sworn complaint, signed, all uh You want to see it?

[00:06:30]>> Affidavit, sworn affidavit.

[00:06:32]>> No, it's not I don't think it's an affidavit. Well, okay, so >> You said you wanted a sworn complaint.

[00:06:38]From an injured party. Who have I injured for the record? The state of Michigan.

[00:06:43]>> How can I are bringing the charges. How can I injure someone? Sir, sit down.

[00:06:49]Sit down.

[00:06:50]>> I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Sit down, or I will hold you in contempt.

[00:06:55]Another threat, wow.

[00:06:57]You're probably going to hear more than one. I see. All right.

[00:07:01]I am ruling that I have jurisdiction.

[00:07:03]You are free to appeal that to the circuit court.

[00:07:06]Proceed. Do the people have a witness they'd like to call and examine? Yes, judge. The people are prepared to move forward. Um this is a quick preliminary matter with plus a mutual order of sequestration with an acceptance with an OWI case. Okay.

[00:07:20]So, yeah, uh I'm not asking you to talk.

[00:07:23]Ma'am, are you a possible witness in this case?

[00:07:29]Okay. All right, and would you mind putting your name on the record, please?

[00:07:32]Counsel, I I I want to look at the lady.

[00:07:35]Would you mind putting your name on the record? She's a witness. She is a witness. Sir, you speak again when I haven't asked you to, and you're in contempt and we'll deal with that first.

[00:07:45]Your witness.

[00:07:46]The The reason I need your name is because if if you appear somewhere down the road and want to testify, we have to know that today you were in the courtroom and I can't do that by taking a picture of you. So, I'm asking you to state your name. Your witness. I object.

[00:08:00]Sir, you are in contempt of court.

[00:08:02]That's a $100 fine. Speak again when it's not your turn and I'll continue to up the ante. Clear?

[00:08:09]You can speak now. I've asked you a question.

[00:08:12]>> I don't give a if you object. Is it clear what I said?

[00:08:19]I'm waiting for an answer.

[00:08:20]I said I object. What am I supposed to say?

[00:08:22]>> [clears throat] >> I want to know if you understand you've just been fined $100 for contempt. I don't understand. Okay, well, you still owe me $100.

[00:08:29]Are you going to give me your name? My name is Stovall. That's fine.

[00:08:33]Thank you.

[00:08:35]Wow, that may have been the sharpest line of the entire hearing. The defendant insists he's legally separate from the name on the case and the judge instantly flips it back on him.

[00:08:45]When I call that name, you walk forward.

[00:08:48]That's the courtroom version of a checkmate moment. Blunt, sarcastic, and designed to shut the entire theory down in one sentence.

[00:08:59]Witness. [clears throat] Your Honor, the people call Officer Stovall.

[00:09:04]Oh, I'm sorry. One last quick preliminary matter. Pursuant to 766.11b, we'd like to introduce a certified registered of action in regards to this individual being a previously record holder. I object.

[00:09:19]>> Hold on. Have you shown that to him? I object.

[00:09:22]I object. What's your objection, Mr. Stovall?

[00:09:25]>> My objection is that I am here under the guidance of a probable cause conference and I don't know how we're here at a preliminary exam when I did not my I did not waive any right to waive a probable cause. I just This is a probable This is a preliminary exam. Uh this is Okay, so right here it says >> This is the probable cause hearing.

[00:09:46]>> Uh-uh, it it says it This is >> stop. Stop. Stop. Right now, the question on the table is you've objected to admittance of that document. I want to know what your legal objection is.

[00:09:56]I'm also objecting >> What is your legal objection?

[00:09:58]>> to not waiving my probable cause hearing. Denied.

[00:10:02]That's admitted cuz you didn't give me a valid objection. I object. You can't just object. You got to explain what the valid objection is to the other side.

[00:10:10]>> we are having a a preliminary exam when I haven't had a probable cause hearing and that I did not >> They're the same thing, Mr. Michaud.

[00:10:19]>> it On this Mr. Michaud They're the same thing.

[00:10:23]>> But it's still I have a right to a probable cause. Am I right or wrong?

[00:10:27]>> Sure, try. Am I right? Do I have a right to a probable cause?

[00:10:30]>> That's what today is scheduled for.

[00:10:32]>> But today it says preliminary exam, right here it says probable cause conference. And today is a different day that says a preliminary >> Have you ever had a grilled cheese?

[00:10:40]>> was different >> Have you ever had a grilled cheese?

[00:10:42]>> If it was different, why would it have two separate >> Have you ever had a grilled cheese?

[00:10:47]I object to any of that. Why would it have two separate columns? Take him out.

[00:10:51]Why would it have two separate columns?

[00:10:53]>> I'm not playing this game with him today. If you think you can get him to shut up a long enough so we can have our hearing, we'll do it. But I'm not going to let him try to run my courtroom.

[00:11:04]Okay. I'll just be very brief in my one attempt here.

[00:11:08]I I would like to try to explain what I understand Mr. Michaud's objection to be and what I have also represented to him regarding that regarding that objection. Mr. Michaud, I think the court record will reflect at a probable cause conference first on November 29th and then again on December 20th.

[00:11:27]I have disclosed I mean I think I've been very transparent with Mr. Michaud probable cause conference is a bit of a misleading name because probable cause conference under the court rules does not require that probable cause be established. Right. Um at the second probable cause conference, Mr. Mersha was uh caring for a sick relative, so he wasn't able to attend that probable cause conference scheduled December 20th. Which didn't hurt him at all.

[00:11:53]Right. I represented him on that day and I asked the court to waive his appearance so that he could remain with his family. Which we did. And I respected his wishes. I may now understand differently that I that I that I misrepresented him in some way, but you know, my goal was just to be able to conduct a full probable cause conference where we were going to find out if there was any offer, whether you know, what was offered. You don't have to tell me what they are. I know what they are. I know, but I'm just trying to explain And I'm trying to explain it to him, too, but I'm not going to talk over him. Right. And I'm not going to play that crap today. Right. So if you want me to explain what's scheduled today versus what was scheduled last time, I'm happy to do that, but you got to be quiet while I'm talking. Clear?

[00:12:32]I'll do I I hear you. All right. The last court date that we call a probable cause conference is like a pre-trial on a misdemeanor. It gives the parties a chance to discuss the case and see if there's any resolutions prior to the next step. Next step being preliminary exam. At the preliminary exam, the people have to prove to me that there's probable cause to believe that there was a crime and there's reason to believe you were involved. That's what's scheduled today. That is a probable cause hearing.

[00:13:05]Probable cause conference is just a name that we all came up with instead of saying it's a pre-trial for a felony.

[00:13:14]Do you have any questions based on that?

[00:13:17]At what point did I waive anything? If he if this a hearing or You didn't You didn't waive it. There's There's nothing to hold on. I have a right to have a probable cause conference? No. What?

[00:13:29]You can do that right now. Do you want to make a deal with the people? I want to be able to prepare myself for the probable cause conference. There's no preparing for a probable cause conference. It's a conversation. It still take preparation. You want a PCC?

[00:13:43]Go have a holiday have a PCC with the unrepresented defendant. Judge, just for the record, um there will be no offer at this stage.

[00:13:51]There's your PCC. Now, do you want to plead guilty? Do you want to have an exam? And at the exam, he's got to prove to me those two things I just said.

[00:14:01]Probable cause to believe a crime was committed on this date and reason to believe that you were involved. Do you want to have that hearing so he gets to prove his case? Or do you want to wait?

[00:14:10]That's the other option. You can waive the preliminary exam and we'll take the case directly to uh circuit court level 2 weeks down the road for an arraignment on information, which I would describe as another pre-trial on a felony.

[00:14:24]Where you and the prosecutor can discuss the case, see if there are any offers.

[00:14:28]That's another option. Would you agree with that assessment, Mr. Sullivan? I would agree and I would also just add that Mr. Mitchell has made his arguments today. You ruled on his arguments and then he preserves his right to He can appeal them. As as you as you've already said at circuit court and so if he wants to sort of move forward on that defense alone, that you know, the waiver does not preclude him from Not at all. arguing jurisdiction at circuit court level.

[00:14:57]Um but likewise, if he holds a preliminary exam today, holds the people to their burden, he also maintains the right to you know, continue his objections to jurisdiction and to appeal the court's orders regarding jurisdiction at that next level at the circuit court level assuming that the people are able to prove probable cause today.

[00:15:20]Now, do want to have an exam Well, I want to to address some address some I served the court notices.

[00:15:30]I haven't read any of that because you were represented by counsel. No, I wasn't. I didn't have I don't have any counsel.

[00:15:36]>> As far as I knew, you were represented by counsel.

[00:15:38]>> Okay, so now you know. And I want I served the court notices.

[00:15:42]And I want I'd like to >> First notice, what would you like to put me on notice about? Well, I I served you notice that I requested the the criminal bond information Criminal what? Hold on.

[00:15:52]I requested the bid bond, the performance bond. I have the affidavit >> There is no bond. There are bonds. This is a the Listen, listen, listen. You can't tell me something and then just disagree with me and Listen to me. Sir, I am not going to let you interrupt me.

[00:16:08]Well, you just interrupted me.

[00:16:10]I'm in charge. I get to do you don't get to do. It's part of the black robe, okay? That's just the way it works. My courtroom, I get to decide how it's run. There are no bonds required for me to do what's scheduled today.

[00:16:25]I've been doing this 25 years. I've never had a bond.

[00:16:28]You have a bond.

[00:16:30]Okay, I have a bond.

[00:16:32]>> Everyone here has a bond.

[00:16:34]Not in any definition I know.

[00:16:37]So, let's get to the point. Do you want an exam today? No, I really want to address Okay, so >> I'm not addressing any of that crap you got in front of you. Well, since you since you say you don't have a bond, can you can you uh express that in a via affidavit so I can have a It's on the record. Order a transcript. I'm not signing anything for you.

[00:16:59]Okay.

[00:17:00]Also, I want also address that I sent affidavit of fee schedule violation of any of my rights. There are no fee schedules. Well, I gave you notice and Great. Then you gave me notice. Doesn't change anything. We're still scheduled for an exam today.

[00:17:18]>> Yes. Just Just putting it on the record that I served you notice, okay? Also, I served you notice on my power of attorney.

[00:17:27]Okay, it's You said that. Right. And you haven't responded to that, as well as my indemnity bond, which separate race me, and I have a private capacity. I am not the artificial person. I don't recognize any of that.

[00:17:44]I am actually You can put on notice what you sent the court, if you want to make a record of that. But, I'm telling you, I don't recognize any of that stuff you're talking about. I don't recognize that you're not really Frank Michaud.

[00:17:58]Okay, [clears throat] I understand that's what you're trying to argue, but I don't recognize that.

[00:18:00]>> Under what What law could you represent or you can use uh tell me that not just from what you say, because ignorance of the law is no excuse for you or nobody else.

[00:18:11]So, what you're saying just don't mean nothing. I need to have fact. Well, that doesn't mean It does It should mean something, Please prove it. Please prove it.

[00:18:19]>> prove what? Prove that I am I am not the order that I am an artificial person. I can prove you're Frank Michaud.

[00:18:27]I can prove Okay, so Hold on. Hold on.

[00:18:29]You've asked me I can prove you're Frank Michaud. You know I can prove that? And there it is, the phrase every courtroom dreads hearing, sovereign citizen. These arguments usually revolve around the belief that a person can separate themselves from government authority using specific legal wording, jurisdiction challenges, or constitutional theories. The problem?

[00:18:51]Courts across America overwhelmingly reject these arguments, and judges tend to lose patience fast when hearings get derailed like this.

[00:18:59]Cuz when I called the case and said you either come up here and be Frank Michaud or you leave, you came up here, and I You proved it for me.

[00:19:06]You threatening me. But, if you're not you, the threat means nothing. It doesn't mean nothing.

[00:19:12]Okay.

[00:19:12]>> still threatening me, man and you using it as a color of law.

[00:19:15]>> Listen to me.

[00:19:16]Listen to me shut up. You have I've wasted too much time with you.

[00:19:20]Yes or no? So >> Sir, don't argue with me. Yes or no? Are we doing a preliminary exam today? Yes or no?

[00:19:27]>> I object. I will address >> Answer the question. I want to address other issues as well.

[00:19:32]>> You're in contempt of court. Put him in jail.

[00:19:34]For what? For contempt of court. I haven't I'm having You can appeal that, too.

[00:19:41]Sentence is 30 days.

[00:19:44]See you in 30 days.