Michigan is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. Ascension Borgess Allegan Foundation Director . Field had been a popular instructor at the college before his dismissal. Redistricting Maps Take Affect for 2022 Elections. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). On Jan. 1, theMichigan Supreme Court announcedJudge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. 100% remote. The emails were something between idle chat and administrative communication.. 113 Chestnut St. In Wednesday's announcement, the state Supreme Court said it would hear the appeal, but would limit the scope to the ex parte communications between Bakker and Koch, whether they were administrative in nature and whether Loew is entitled to a new trial. All rights reserved. Myrene Koch will replace Robert Kengis as Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney on March 19. 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. prosecutorial candidate Michael Villar accused his opponent, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. More:Hamilton man pleads guilty to 1980 murder of Virginia woman, More:Wife: Hamilton man killed their daughter in 1989, dismembered and buried body. After the emails were discovered, Villar saidhe filed complaints against Koch and Bakker with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission and Attorney Grievance Commission, respectively. 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. Rick Snyder on Wednesday, Feb. 28 . Judges Elections Allegan County, Michigan Circuit Court 48th Circuit Court, Michigan Margaret Bakker (Chief judge) Kevin W. Cronin [1] District Court Michigan Fifty-seventh Judicial District Court William Baillargeon (Chief judge) Joseph S. Skocelas [2] Probate Court Allegan County Probate Court, Michigan Michael L. Buck [3] See also Presiding Family Court Judge, Allegan County, Michigan Kengis was the chief prosecuting attorney when. Let us know here, 57th District Court Allegan County113 Chestnut Street0.0 mile away, Allegan County Probate Court2243 33rd Street2.2 miles away, 36th Judicial Circuit Court Van Buren CountyCourthouse - Second Floor, 212 East Paw Paw Street12.6 miles away, 2023 Everything-Bytes | Terms of Use & Privacy Policy. He was elected to a six-year term in 2020. Allegan County Sheriff's Office Sheriff. 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. Koch previously told The Sentinel she never discussed the emails with Jipp. She said the counseling took place there and the sexual relations at Fields home next door to the center. Lynch said that emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act showed improper communication between the trial judge, Margaret Zuzich-Bakker, and the prosecutor, regarding substantive matters that gave the prosecution a tactical advantage.. Myrene Koch will take over for current prosecutor, Roberts Kengis on March 19. During the runup to the primary election in August, prosecutorial candidate Michael Villar accused his opponent, incumbent prosecutor Myrene Koch, of inappropriate ex parte communications with Judge Margaret Bakker. In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the. The case has volleyed around the higher court system after Loew's conviction in August 2019. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge. Field was arrested in the fall of 2017. Message to the Board of Commissioners, Prosecutor Koch, Judge Kengis, Judge Bakker, Sheriff Baker and the people who witness unconstitutional and corrupt actions in Allegan County and do nothing.. 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. All rights reserved. In August, Bakker also recused herself from hearing the motion for a new trial. The rest of the charges against Field will be dismissed including charges of criminal sexual conduct and no additional charges will be brought against him from the investigation. 113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI49010 Download the WZZM 13 app now. Honorable Roberts A. Kengis . Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis was asked to disqualify himself from the case and agreed to do so in a hearing Thursday. The status of those grievances is unknown, as the merits of Loew's appeal are still pending. ALLEGAN Judge Roberts Kengis took over supervision of the 48th Circuit Court on Jan. 1 as chief judge after he was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to replace Judge Margaret. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} Judge Kengis handles all the case types that are dealt with in circuit court: criminal felonies, civil cases with a value over $25,000.00, divorce, custody, and paternity cases, personal protection order cases, child protective proceedings, guardianships, adoptions, and appeals from district court and administrative bodies. Honorable Michael L. Buck . Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. *Not location specific. Apply today! Judge Kengis noted that Field will be sentenced before him on Friday, Sept. 10 in Cass County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. Dissenting Justice Michael Riordan said reasonable minds could conclude that Bakker was biased in favor of the prosecution. Bakker also asked why the victim in the case had not been given a medical exam. Soon after election, she was appointed as chief judge, a position she has held for 11 years. 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. The plea agreement was announced Friday afternoon in a court hearing before Judge Roberts Kengis. Bowman says he hid Aundria's body in a barn on the property and called police to report that she had run away. Loew's attorney, Heath Lynch, argued it's impossible to know whether Koch shared the communications with Jipp and whether trial strategy was altered due to what Bakker wrote in the emails. Michigan Court of Appeals In 2020, Kengis was elected to the circuit court. Sarah Leach is editor of The Holland Sentinel. 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. Judiciary Courts of the Stt can be contacted via phone at (269) 673-8471 for pricing, hours and directions. 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 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. Subscribe:Get unlimited access to our local coverage. The defense said the emails show misconduct. Beginning January 1, 2022, Judge Roberts Kengis assumed the chief judge leadership of the 48 th Circuit Court. County Clerk, Judge, or Other Info: Staff: George R. Corsiglia (Chief Judge), William A. Baillargeon Hours: Open Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM 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 In Allegan County, the presiding judge of the Family Court is the Honorable Michael L. Buck. Contact 48th Judicial Circuit Court 113 Chestnut St. Allegan, MI 49010 (269) 673-0300 Judges Honorable Roberts Kengis Chief Circuit Court Judge Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker Circuit Court Judge Honorable Michael Buck Presiding Family Court Judge Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Ballotpedia features 395,436 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Penny Brown . The emails were unearthed by Allegan-based attorney Michael Villar, who was challenging County Prosecutor Myrene Koch's re-election bid in summer 2020. 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. Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below. Kengis said during Thursdays hearing that the hearing would likely be reassigned next to a judge in Allegan Countys 57th District Court. Koch a 1992 graduate of Michigan State received her JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1999. Judiciary Courts of the Stt is located at 113 Chestnut St in Allegan, Michigan 49010. 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. Chief Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker Jennifer Garcia. The emails between Koch and Judge Margaret Bakker showed the two discussing the case while Loew's trial was occurring in Bakker's courtroom. I did not discuss those communications with the Assistant Prosecutor trying the case. Koch and her husband married in 1993. Cheshire Hills Golf Course . The jury was thereby improperly influenced.. 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. The fact that the presiding judge was commenting on the quality of the investigation while the trial was underway it's inconceivable to me that that could happen," Lynch said. The Michigan Supreme Court made their current appointments to the courts across the state. The investigation of Field began earlier that summer after the victim told college officials about Fields actions against her. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Get unlimited access to our local coverage, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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.". Community Volunteer . She became a judge on Jan. 1, 2010. Gov. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11 years. The prosecutor said the emails and information were not shared with the assistant prosecutor trying the case. JUDGES OF MICHIGAN . If any of these apply to you, contact the court to verify they observe the exemption. Jury trials routinely require two to three days to decide amidst other . Contact Info (269) 673-8471 Questions & Answers Q What is the phone number for Judiciary Courts of the Stt? Hours: Open Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM 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. Judge Roberts Kengis is the new chief judge of the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan County. The victim was a student of Fields at SMC and also went to him for counseling at the Family Center in Dowagiac. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER . "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. Allegan, MI 49010 Rob Kengis. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. 269-226-5014. craig.chindemi@ascension.org. The half hour hearing Friday afternoon featured Field being sworn in and agreeing to the no contest pleas on the seven charges. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI A judge ordered a retrial for a man convicted of sexual assault because the trial judge emailed the county prosecutor who was not trying the case during proceedings. Allegan County Prosecutor Myrene Koch disagreed with the retrial order and said her office is considering an appeal. Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI - A judge ordered a retrial for a man convicted of sexual assault because the trial judge emailed the county prosecutor - who was not trying the case - during. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore?. 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. The victim was 13 at the time of the first reported assault. All Rights Reserved. The jury found the Defendant guilty based on that evidence. 48th Judicial Circuit Court Bakker did not submit a request to be reappointed which left an opening for Kengis. 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 113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI 49010 Allegan County Court System Type: Civil, General Civil - Unlimited, General Civil - Limited, Small Claims, Complex Commercial, Foreclosures and Liens, Real Estate Title and Boundary, Criminal, Mental Health Division: Contact Information: Phone Number: 269-673-0400 Fax: 269-673-0490 Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. Assistant Allegan County Prosecutor Emily Jipp called a state police trooper as her second witness. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. 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. In this case, she was comfortable with the agreement. Is any of the above incorrect? Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Michael Buck Loew currently is free while awaiting the outcome of his appeal. Kengis and Bakker have worked closely together over the years when making final decisions on a variety of issues. The Michigan Supreme Court will ultimately decide after agreeing to hear oral arguments in the case of Daniel Loew. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests, Annual Reports and State of the County Report. 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. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis was asked to disqualify himself from the case and agreed to do so in a hearing Thursday. Bakker was immediately appointed chief judge and served 11 years as chief judge. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelLeach. 57th District Court Honorable Joseph S . ALLEGAN - Allegan County Commission chairman James Storey points out the Allegan circuit should have a third judge position. Before that, she worked 28 years as an assistant prosecutor, the last eight as chief prosecutor. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Lynch responded: Thats not the point. The emails were made public by Villar during the 2020 Republican primary for the Allegan prosecutor post. Ex parte translates from Latin to mean out of the party; in the context of the legal system, it is communication about a case between a judge and one sides attorney that occurs without the other partys counsel present. ALLEGAN Should a criminal defendant in Allegan County get a new trial after claiming he didn't get a fair shake? Herman was a member of the board of directors of the counseling center where Field worked and where some of the incidents took place. The chief judges will remain in place until the MI Supreme Court reviews applications and makes the next round of appointments in two years. 3283 122nd Ave. Friday, Judge Kengis kept Fields bond the same. Bakker was Allegan County's first female circuit court judge. After serving as the elected prosecuting attorney for the county, Kengis appointment to the circuit court occurred in March of 2018 by then Governor Rick Snyder when Judge Kevin Cronin resigned. 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