Hours: Open Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM 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. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11. 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. She said the counseling took place there and the sexual relations at Fields home next door to the center. JUDGES OF MICHIGAN . My office is contemplating an appeal. 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 He was elected to a six-year term in 2020. Michigan Circuit Court Judge Kengis relied on the testimony from the 2018 preliminary hearing in the case for his findings of fact in accepting Fields plea. He obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request. 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. Sarah Leach is editor of The Holland Sentinel. 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. 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. Michigan District Courts 113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI49010 Allegan County Circuit Court Judge. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11 years. ", Bakker wrote back, "One more question this victim was not referred for a medical, do you know why?". Under the plea agreement announced by Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Montenegro and defense attorney James Miller, Field will plead no contest to three counts of attempted aggravated indecent exposure, one count of perjury, one count of unauthorized practice of a health profession, one count of health care fraud and one count of possession of marijuana. He was sentenced to a minimum 20 years in prison on each charge. More:Hamilton man pleads guilty to 1980 murder of Virginia woman, More:Wife: Hamilton man killed their daughter in 1989, dismembered and buried body. I will add that this case was decided by a jury based on the evidence presented in the courtroom. He is being convicted of multiple sex offenses which will impact his getting teaching or counseling positions in the future., Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Pokagon Band celebrates Four Winds South Bend hotel expansion, Chamber of Commerce welcomes real estate firm to downtown Dowagiac, School safety gains, FFA students highlighted at Cassopolis Board of Education meeting, 2nd & Main coffeehouse opens in downtown Niles. He was convicted of five counts of criminal sexual misconduct and sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. He was sentenced last November to at least 20 years in prison. Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. 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. "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. 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 "Whenever an issue arises or a policy decision needs to be made, Judge Bakker and Judge Kengis always discuss the matter prior to the chief making the final decision.". Community Volunteer . Bakker was Allegan Countys first female circuit court judge. Judiciary Courts of the Stt can be contacted via phone at (269) 673-8471 for pricing, hours and directions. The point is she tried. Copyright 2023, Wilcox Newspapers. According to testimony from detectives, Bowman claimsthat he and Aundria physically fought and Aundria fell down the stairs, breaking herneck. Bowman says he hid Aundria's body in a barn on the property and called police to report that she had run away. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Bakker did not submit a request to be reappointed which left an opening for Kengis. Download the WZZM 13 app now. 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. Contact Info (269) 673-8471 Questions & Answers Q What is the phone number for Judiciary Courts of the Stt? The incidents occurred between September 2015 and early 2018 when he perjured himself during a court hearing. Lynch responded: Thats not the point. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI -- Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis has been appointed to a recently vacated judgeship with the Allegan County Circuit Court. Montenegro said the agreement calls for Field to be sentenced to a term of probation, a county jail sentence not to exceed one year and no requirement to register as a sex offender. We routinely discuss cases with the victims, said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. 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 She said the jury reached the decision. 100 largest cities in America by population, United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, Michigan Fifty-seventh Judicial District Court, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2023, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2022, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2021, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2020, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2019, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2018, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2017, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2016, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Allegan_County,_Michigan_(Judicial)&oldid=7667650, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. On Wednesday, Oct. 5, the high court announced it would hear arguments in the case, but limited the scope to the ramifications of discovered communications where the presiding judge overseeing Loew's initial trial was sharing her opinion of the case through emails with the head prosecutor. Bowman, 72, is charged with her murder. Field was arrested in the fall of 2017. Cheshire Hills Golf Course . The victim was a student of Fields at SMC and also went to him for counseling at the Family Center in Dowagiac. Ms. Kochs response acknowledged the criticism and acknowledged the breakdown in procedure. Loews attorneys are alleging prosecutorial misconduct occurred based on the emails, which they say they learned of in June. Beginning January 1, 2022, Judge Roberts Kengis assumed the chief judge leadership of the 48 th Circuit Court. 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. Get unlimited access to our local coverage, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The emails were unearthed by Allegan-based attorney Michael Villar, who was challenging County Prosecutor Myrene Koch's re-election bid in summer 2020. The case likely will be heard in 2023. 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. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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 Zuzich Bakker in the role. Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis recused himself because he was the county prosecutor when charges were filed against Loew. Myrene Koch will take over for current prosecutor, Roberts Kengis on March 19. Allegan County Sheriff's Office Sheriff. He buried Aundria's body on their property, later moving her body when the Bowmans moved from Holland to the Hamilton area shortly afterward. Koch was named to the position by Chief Circuit Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker, on Tuesday. Soon after election, she was appointed as chief judge, a position she has held for 11 years. 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. I did not discuss those communications with the Assistant Prosecutor trying the case. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore?. 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. 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.". After the emails were discovered, Villar saidhe filed complaints against Koch and Bakker with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission and Attorney Grievance Commission, respectively. The plea agreement was announced Friday afternoon in a court hearing before Judge Roberts Kengis. 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. Allegan, MI 49010, Design By Granicus - Connecting People & Government. *Not location specific. Koch a 1992 graduate of Michigan State received her JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1999. Betty Kortman . Before that, she worked 28 years as an assistant prosecutor, the last eight as chief prosecutor. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. The status of those grievances is unknown, as the merits of Loew's appeal are still pending. Friday, Judge Kengis kept Fields bond the same. Jury trials routinely require two to three days to decide amidst other . The Michigan Supreme Court votes on the appointment of chief judges for Michigan courts every two years. Assistant Allegan County Prosecutor Emily Jipp called a state police trooper as her second witness. Koch and her husband married in 1993. Appeals court walks back new trial for man after prosecutor, judge emailed during trial, Man wins new trial over email exchange between judge, prosecutor, Judges recused from hearing mans request for new trial, Allegan man says judge, prosecutor denied him a fair trial, Get unlimited access to our local coverage, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The chief judges will remain in place until the MI Supreme Court reviews applications and makes the next round of appointments in two years. 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). 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.. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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 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. Bakker also asked why the victim in the case had not been given a medical exam. The Allegan County decisions included the new appointment of the Honorable Roberts A. Kengis as chief justice of the 48 th Circuit Court, and the chief judge reappointment of the Honorable Michael L. Buck to the Allegan County Probate Court and the Honorable Joseph S. Skocelas to the 57 th District Court. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. The emails were something between idle chat and administrative communication.. Villar, a private practice attorney, later lost the electionby a handful of votes. 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. 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.. Villar lost the primary election in August and a recount of votes conducted last week affirmed that Koch had won re-election by 19 votes. Dont they have detectives anymore?, The next morning, Koch replied: They do but not typically for CSCs. After the trooper left the witness stand, Bakker emailed Koch: This trooper didnt do a very good investigation. Bowman strangled and stabbed a 25-year-old woman, Kathleen O'Brien Doyle,in her home. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. 269-226-5014. craig.chindemi@ascension.org. Chief Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker In Allegan County, the presiding judge of the Family Court is the Honorable Michael L. Buck. ALLEGAN Should a criminal defendant in Allegan County get a new trial after claiming he didn't get a fair shake? Loew currently is free while awaiting the outcome of his appeal. *county-courthouse.com is not affiliated with the Official US Government, or any state, local, or federal office. 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.. 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. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, Villar obtained emails sent during Loews case between Koch and Bakker in which Bakker wrote to Koch regarding the police: (T)his trooper didnt do a very good investigation. This county is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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 murder was onlyconnected to Bowman in 2018 when detectives used a genealogy database searchingtechnique toidentify a DNA sample from the decades-old case. Subscribe:Receive 3 months of all-access to The Sentinel's award-winning digital coverage for $1. Have a news tip? Kengis was the chief prosecuting attorney when. Briefs in the case are expected to be filed within the coming months, at which point oral arguments will be scheduled. Which they say they learned of in June a state police trooper as her second witness and not. At cmuyskens @ hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @ cjmuyskens Your California Rights/Privacy. 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