If any of these apply to you, contact the court to verify they observe the exemption. 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 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. 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. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. By using this website, you agree to comply with all of the terms of use . The murder was onlyconnected to Bowman in 2018 when detectives used a genealogy database searchingtechnique toidentify a DNA sample from the decades-old case. Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Villar, a private practice attorney, later lost the electionby a handful of votes. 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. On Jan. 1, theMichigan Supreme Court announcedJudge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. 48th Judicial Circuit Court The prosecutor said the emails and information were not shared with the assistant prosecutor trying the case. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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.. ALLEGAN - Allegan County Commission chairman James Storey points out the Allegan circuit should have a third judge position. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis was asked to disqualify himself from the case and agreed to do so in a hearing Thursday. Michigan Probate Courts, Courts in Michigan Michigan judicial elections Judicial selection in Michigan. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore? In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} Penny Brown . As the presiding officer of the court, a chief judge shall: (a) call and preside over meetings of the court; (b) appoint committees of the court; (c) initiate policies concerning the courts internal operations and its position on external matters affecting the court; (d) meet regularly with all chief judges.. Allegan County Circuit Judge Margaret Zuzich-Bakker (MLive File Photo)Emil Lippe | MLive.com. Roberts Kengis Circuit Court Judge at Allegan County Government Plainwell, Michigan, United States 781 followers 500+ connections Join to connect Allegan County Government Wayne State. The emails from Judge Bakker were an editorial expressing discontent with the case and as inquiry as to the breakdown in police and procedure that compromised the investigation, Schikora wrote in court documents. Beginning January 1, 2022, Judge Roberts Kengis assumed the chief judge leadership of the 48 th Circuit Court. They have four children. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. She said the counseling took place there and the sexual relations at Fields home next door to the center. Copyright 2023, Wilcox Newspapers. Bowman is already serving a life sentence for a murder he committed in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1980, where he had reported for his two-week annual active drill as a member of the Navy reserves. Bowman says he hid Aundria's body in a barn on the property and called police to report that she had run away. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals reversed that decision in a split 2-1 opinion in January this year. Koch and her husband married in 1993. George Field, 60, of Dowagiac, had been scheduled to face trial starting Monday in Cass County Circuit Court on 17 criminal sexual conduct, insurance fraud and perjury charges. 13 READS: Muskegon book store asking for help to stay open, continue to promote literacy, 13 On Your Side Forecast: Fog Thursday; Snowstorm Friday. a murder he committed in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1980, Hamilton man pleads guilty to 1980 murder of Virginia woman, Wife: Hamilton man killed their daughter in 1989, dismembered and buried body, Receive 3 months of all-access to The Sentinel's award-winning digital coverage for $1, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Marcia Johnson. Although Koch didn't directly prosecute the case for the county, she was the supervisor of the assistant prosecutor who did. 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. I did not discuss those communications with the Assistant Prosecutor trying the case. Download the WZZM 13 app now. The plea agreement was announced Friday afternoon in a court hearing before Judge Roberts Kengis. Myrene Koch will take over for current prosecutor, Roberts Kengis on March 19. 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. She noted that he has already conducted trials in his home county during the pandemic, which should be a help as Cass County starts holding them. Allegan County Friend of the Court et al 1:2021cv00195 | US District Court for the Western District of Michigan | Justia Collet v. Allegan County Friend of the Court et al RSS Track this Docket Docket Report This docket was last retrieved on March 3, 2021. 269-226-5014. craig.chindemi@ascension.org. 100% remote. Dissenting Justice Michael Riordan said reasonable minds could conclude that Bakker was biased in favor of the prosecution. The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan has jurisdiction in Allegan County. In the motion for a new trial, the Defense team did not allege nor did the Judge cite any actual bias or impact on the integrity of the trial based on those communications.. Allegan County Sheriff's Office Sheriff. 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. The case has volleyed around the higher court system after Loew's conviction in August 2019. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11 years. Call, or visit the court's website if listed above. Jim Wheat, MD. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Rick Snyder on Wednesday, Feb. 28 . (269) 673-0300, Honorable Roberts Kengis They began investigating and recommended she contact the sheriffs department. ", Koch responded, "They do but not typically for CSCs. The emails between Koch and Judge Margaret Bakker showed the two discussing the case while Loew's trial was occurring in Bakker's courtroom. Soon after election, she was appointed as chief judge, a position she has held for 11 years. Judge Roberts Kengis is the new chief judge of the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan County. While Koch said she did not talk to her assistant prosecutor about the judges remarks, Lynch said in court filings that APA Jipp had ample time to adjust her trial strategy and presentation of evidence to address concerns the judge voiced with remarkable candor., He said the trial transcript indicates that APA Jipp indeed addressed the issues raised by Judge Bakker.. Presiding Family Court Judge, Allegan County, Michigan Dont they have detectives anymore?, The next morning, Koch replied: They do but not typically for CSCs. Lynch responded: Thats not the point. 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. The case was tried by assistant prosecuting attorney Emily Jipp. "Since Judge Kengis was appointed, Judge Bakker and Judge Kengis have worked together on chief duties, and the two plan on continuing this practice moving forward," Brink wrote in an email. All rights reserved (About Us). AGC investigations are confidential, and investigations of the Judicial Tenure Commission only become public if the commission decides to proceed with a formal complaint against the judge, typically reserved for allegations of serious misconduct. prosecutorial candidate Michael Villar accused his opponent, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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 Is any of the above incorrect? The investigation of Field began earlier that summer after the victim told college officials about Fields actions against her. Example video title will go here for this video. Loew currently is free while awaiting the outcome of his appeal. 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. This trooper has been given additional personal training since this investigation. The sentences run concurrently. 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. In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the attorneys tohis history with the case. According to testimony from detectives, Bowman claimsthat he and Aundria physically fought and Aundria fell down the stairs, breaking herneck. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore?. 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