Services The Circuit Court Family Division provides the following services: Delinquency Proceedings Casework services -- Community Probation and Juvenile Diversion Protective Proceedings Guardianship of minors who are already under Family Court jurisdiction Call, or visit the court's website if listed above. Dobrich said Allegan Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis will preside over the trial, which will take place in Cassopolis. Kengis replaces Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker who had been elected to the circuit court in 2010. Field was arrested in the fall of 2017. Generally, ex parte communications between a judge and only one party in a legal matter are prohibited by ethics codes for judges and attorneys because they can give an unfair advantage to one side in a case. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Is any of the above incorrect? He obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request. Chief Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} Bowman, 72, is charged with her murder. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11 years. Additional: Frederick Anderson (Prosecuting Attorney), Margaret Zuzich Bakker (Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney); Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys: Douglas E. Ketchum, Roberts A. Kengis, Steven J. Lanting, Myrene K. Koch, Daniel Norbeck, Judy H. Visit our Links Page for websites providing Employment Listings, as well as US Government holiday closings. The plea agreement was announced Friday afternoon in a court hearing before Judge Roberts Kengis. 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In response to the allegations brought by Loews attorney, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Molly Schikora said the three emails sent by the judge had no bearing on the case and were not intended to help the prosecution. The emails were unearthed by Allegan-based attorney Michael Villar, who was challenging County Prosecutor Myrene Koch's re-election bid in summer 2020. Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Ms. Kochs response acknowledged the criticism and acknowledged the breakdown in procedure. 1983 against the County of Allegan, the State of Michigan, Kevin Cronin, a former judge of the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan County, and Robert Kengis, a current judge of the 48th Circuit Court, alleging claims for denial of due process, cruel and unusual punishment 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. Subscribe:Get unlimited access to our local coverage. Dont they have detectives anymore?, The next morning, Koch replied: They do but not typically for CSCs. Its one of the most outrageous things Ive seen in my career, defense attorney Heath Lynch, a former federal prosecutor in Grand Rapids, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Bakker did not apply for reappointment in this appointment cycle, circuit court administrator Jennifer Brink said, and supported Kengis's application for chief judge in a letter to the Michigan Supreme Court. Bakker was Allegan Countys first female circuit court judge. Bowman says he hid Aundria's body in a barn on the property and called police to report that she had run away. Lynch told The Sentinel on Friday the most recent decision to hear arguments indicates the high court's interest in issues it deems of "significant public concern.". The jury found the Defendant guilty based on that evidence. On Jan. 1, theMichigan Supreme Court announcedJudge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. Allegan Attorney Michael Villar, who challenged Koch for her job in the August Republican primary, uncovered the emails in a Freedom of Information Act request. Allegan, MI 49010 Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11. In the majority opinion, Murray wrote that while the appeals court recognized the communications were ex parte, such communications "between a sitting judge and a prosecutor do not warrant a new trial so long as the communications focus on administrative or procedural (i.e. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis was asked to disqualify himself from the case and agreed to do so in a hearing Thursday. Jim Wheat, MD. In August 2019, Loew was convicted by a jury of multiple rapes of a relative of his wife, a girl who was 13 at the time of the first assault. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. CASSOPOLIS A former Southwestern Michigan College instructor accused of having improper relations with a student he was counseling has accepted a plea deal just days before his trial was to start. Recount in Allegan County prosecutor race confirms same winner by 17 votes, Judge said man who killed 3 women should never go free but felon seeking parole after 48 years, Family of WMU student slain in 1972 awaits killers parole ruling. Presiding Family Court Judge, Allegan County, Michigan The chief judge holds "administrative superintending power and control over the judges of the court and all court personnel, including the friend of the court," according to Michigan Court Rule, managing staffing, caseload, court finances, making county clerk and prosecutor's office appointments and managing assignment and reassignment of cases. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI -- Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis has been appointed to a recently vacated judgeship with the Allegan County Circuit Court. ", Koch responded, "They do but not typically for CSCs. http://www.allegancounty.org/Government/CC/Index.asp?pt=, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER), 36th Judicial Circuit Court Van Buren County. He was sentenced to a minimum 20 years in prison on each charge. Honorable Roberts A. Kengis . non-substantive) matters.". To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. Although Koch didn't directly prosecute the case for the county, she was the supervisor of the assistant prosecutor who did. Bakker, who remains on the 48th Circuit Court bench, became Allegan County's first female circuit court judge when she won election to the position in 2010. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore? Koch and her husband married in 1993. Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Michael Buck Allegan County, All civil cases at law over $300., Civil cases in equity., Proceedings in habeas corpus., Felonies and misdemeanors, Proceedings in quo warranto., Prohibition and certiorari cases., Appeals from magistrate court, municipal court, and administrative agenc, Phone Number: 269-673-0300 Field has been free on $50,000 cash or surety bond since July 2018 after being held on a higher bond for several months after his arrest in September 2017. The defense said the emails show misconduct. The sentences run concurrently. Kengis said during Thursdays hearing that the hearing would likely be reassigned next to a judge in Allegan Countys 57th District Court. The communications provided nothing of any tactical use to the prosecution, even if Defendant had been able to show Ms. Jipp was aware of them. Rick Snyder on Wednesday, Feb. 28 . If there are more than twice the number of candidates than there are judgeships up for election, the race will appear on the primary election ballot. Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Kengis used previous testimony and evidence to show that Field committed perjury when he testified that he had not had sex with the victim, that he had held himself out as a licensed health practitioner when he wasnt, presented a false insurance claim for services rendered to another person, possessed marijuana in his home in 2017 and attempted to commit indecent exposure against the victim. The Michigan Supreme Court votes on the appointment of chief judges for Michigan courts every two years after "an extensive review process," according to the State Court Administrative Office. Bowman strangled and stabbed a 25-year-old woman, Kathleen O'Brien Doyle,in her home. None of the communications were ever intended to influence or provide advice nor did they. In November 2020, Allegan District Court JudgeWilliam Baillargeon's granted Loew'smotion for a new trial, saying such one-sided communications, called ex parte communications, between the judge and the prosecutor gave the appearance of impropriety. ALLEGAN - Allegan County Commission chairman James Storey points out the Allegan circuit should have a third judge position. Bakker was Allegan County's first female circuit court judge. Koch said in an email to MLive: "While I respect Judge Baillargeon, I disagree with the basis of his decision in granting a new trial. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge. Honorable Michael L. Buck . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. They have four children. "Maybe it wasn't the case, but it creates the appearance of coaching, or at least flagging, 'This is something you're going to need to address,' and that's my worry," Baillargeon said. Judge Bakker says, "Myrene has demonstrated an outstanding ability to represent the peoples interests in criminal prosecutions before this Court and as Chief Assistant has demonstrated strong administrative abilities that will serve her and the County of Allegan well as Prosecutor.. JUDGES OF MICHIGAN . Herman was a member of the board of directors of the counseling center where Field worked and where some of the incidents took place. Kengis will continue as Prosecuting Attorney until March 19 when he starts his role as a Circuit Judge, a position he was appointed to by Governor Rick Snyder. This trooper has been given additional personal training since this investigation., Bakker then wrote: One more question..this victim was not referred for a medical, do you know why?, Koch replied a few minutes later: Yes, because the prior (assistant prosecuting attorney) assigned to the case did not catch that it was missed nor did anyone else who touched the file., Lynch said that the ex parte communication, or communication with only one side, showed bias and violated the Code of Judicial Conduct. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelLeach. In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Michigan District Courts Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Copyright 2023, Wilcox Newspapers. Allegan County Circuit Judge Margaret Zuzich-Bakker (MLive File Photo)Emil Lippe | MLive.com. The case likely will be heard in 2023. It was after his arrest in November 2019 for Doyle's murder that he began asking to speak to detectives about the circumstances of Aundria'sdeath. COURTS _____ Pursuant to MCR 7.201, IT IS ORDERED that the Honorable Elizabeth L. Gleicher is appointed as chief judge of the Court of Appealsfor the two year period - commencing . In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the. Bowman told detectives thaton the day he reported 14-year-old Aundria missing, March 11, 1989, he came home to find Aundria had broken into her parents' room, normally kept locked, and was getting ready to run away. In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the attorneys tohis history with the case. All rights reserved. ALLEGAN Should a criminal defendant in Allegan County get a new trial after claiming he didn't get a fair shake? The Michigan Supreme Court votes on the appointment of chief judges for Michigan courts every two years. The investigation of Field began earlier that summer after the victim told college officials about Fields actions against her. Cheshire Hills Golf Course . "The recommendation was timely as Chief Judge Kengis advises the number of potential jury trials awaiting scheduling is over one hundred. Daniel Albert Loew, 26, was convicted by an Allegan County Circuit Court jury of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC), two counts of third-degree CSC and a single count of second-degree CSC. Community Volunteer . Neither side objected in court to Kengis'decision to recuse himself. Example video title will go here for this video. prosecutorial candidate Michael Villar accused his opponent, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Loews attorneys are alleging prosecutorial misconduct occurred based on the emails, which they say they learned of in June. 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