judge kengis allegan county

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. The jury found the Defendant guilty based on that evidence. 48th Judicial Circuit Court The point is she tried. He replaces Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker, who served 11 years as chief judge. 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. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI -- Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis has been appointed to a recently vacated judgeship with the Allegan County Circuit Court. Betty Kortman . After the trooper left the witness stand, Bakker emailed Koch: This trooper didnt do a very good investigation. The defense has not pointed to any ruling showing the judge to be compromised or biased, she said. Judge Kengis noted that Field will be sentenced before him on Friday, Sept. 10 in Cass County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. 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. 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. Bowman, 72, is charged with her murder. He was sentenced to a minimum 20 years in prison on each charge. This collaboration will continue as Bakker supported Kengis decision to apply for the leadership position. Allegan, MI 49010 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. 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. The prosecutor said the emails and information were not shared with the assistant prosecutor trying the case. While he was a prosecutorinthe Allegan County Prosecutor's Office, he participated in discussions about the unsolved disappearance of Aundria Bowman with the Allegan County Sheriff's Office and a cold-case panel of other prosecutors and detectives in Lansing. Koch previously told The Sentinel she never discussed the emails with Jipp. In the emails, Bakker wrote to Koch: "This trooper didnt do a very good investigation. non-substantive) matters.". Chief Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker Get unlimited access to our local coverage, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. 100% remote. Rob Kengis. Kengis was the chief prosecuting attorney when. 57th District Court Honorable Joseph S . He said Field will be given the opportunity to withdraw his plea if Kengis decides to sentence him to more than a year in jail or change any other terms of the agreement. She said the jury reached the decision. 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.. They claim that Loew did not receive a fair trial. "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 - Allegan County Commission chairman James Storey points out the Allegan circuit should have a third judge position. 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 The chief judges will remain in place until the MI Supreme Court reviews applications and makes the next round of appointments in two years. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} 113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI49010 All rights reserved (About Us). Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis was asked to disqualify himself from the case and agreed to do so in a hearing Thursday. Redistricting Maps Take Affect for 2022 Elections. Is any of the above incorrect? ", Bakker wrote back, "One more question this victim was not referred for a medical, do you know why?". In Allegan County, the presiding judge of the Family Court is the Honorable Michael L. Buck. *Not location specific. We routinely discuss cases with the victims, said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. 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. (269) 673-0300, Honorable Roberts Kengis Gov. Dont they have detectives anymore?, The next morning, Koch replied: They do but not typically for CSCs. 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. Koch a 1992 graduate of Michigan State received her JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1999. ALLEGAN Two Allegan County judges have recused themselves from hearing the case of Daniel Loew, who is asking for a new trial after emails between the judge and the Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney were released during the prosecutors re-election campaign. 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. Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Michael Buck Rick Snyder on Wednesday, Feb. 28 . 13 READS: Muskegon book store asking for help to stay open, continue to promote literacy, 13 On Your Side Forecast: Fog Thursday; Snowstorm Friday. 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.. Michigan Probate Courts, Courts in Michigan Michigan judicial elections Judicial selection in Michigan. 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. Koch and her husband married in 1993. Before that, she worked 28 years as an assistant prosecutor, the last eight as chief prosecutor. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. 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.. He was convicted of five counts of criminal sexual misconduct and sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. 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 Bakker was Allegan Countys first female circuit court judge. Loews attorneys are alleging prosecutorial misconduct occurred based on the emails, which they say they learned of in June. Allegan County Sheriff's Office Sheriff. If there are not more than twice the amount of candidates than there are persons to be elected, the race will not appear on the primary election ballot, but only on the general election ballot. 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.. 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. The Michigan Supreme Court votes on the appointment of chief judges for Michigan courts every two years. Bowman, 72, is charged with her murder. The emails between Koch and Judge Margaret Bakker showed the two discussing the case while Loew's trial was occurring in Bakker's courtroom. He was elected to a six-year term in 2020. Plaintiff Jonathan King Meyer filed a pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 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. Dobrich said Allegan Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis will preside over the trial, which will take place in Cassopolis. 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. *county-courthouse.com is not affiliated with the Official US Government, or any state, local, or federal office. Allegan County Circuit Judge Margaret Zuzich-Bakker (MLive File Photo)Emil Lippe | MLive.com. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. ALLEGAN The judge assigned to oversee the trial of Dennis Bowman,accused of the murder of his adopted daughter Aundria 30 years ago, has recused himself because of his past involvement in the caseas a 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. Kengis was appointed to the circuit court judgeship in March 2018 by then-governor Rick Snyder after the resignation of Judge Kevin Cronin. Jennifer Garcia. 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. 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. Michigan Court of Appeals In 2020, Kengis was elected to the circuit court. The people of Allegan County are served by the Michigan Third District Court of Appeals, a circuit court, district court, and probate court. Myrene Koch will replace Robert Kengis as Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney on March 19. The emails were unearthed by Allegan-based attorney Michael Villar, who was challenging County Prosecutor Myrene Koch's re-election bid in summer 2020. To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage. Jan Murray. On Jan. 1, theMichigan Supreme Court announcedJudge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. More:Hamilton man pleads guilty to 1980 murder of Virginia woman, More:Wife: Hamilton man killed their daughter in 1989, dismembered and buried body. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. None of the communications were ever intended to influence or provide advice nor did they. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Sarah Leach is editor of The Holland Sentinel. Field had been a popular instructor at the college before his dismissal. Justices Christopher Murray and Jane Markey were in the majority, saying the emails didnt provide an advantage to the prosecution. The two then exchanged several emails about the lack of a medical exam. He was sentenced last November to at least 20 years in prison. 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. In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election. Community Volunteer . Beginning January 1, 2022, Judge Roberts Kengis assumed the chief judge leadership of the 48 th Circuit Court. Judge Kengis noted that Field will be sentenced before him on Friday, Sept. 10 in Cass County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. Allegan, MI 49010, Design By Granicus - Connecting People & Government. Kengis and Bakker have worked closely together over the years when making final decisions on a variety of issues. 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. Cheshire Hills Golf Course . The status of those grievances is unknown, as the merits of Loew's appeal are still pending. Michigan District Courts Ballotpedia features 395,436 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Assistant Allegan County Prosecutor Emily Jipp called a state police trooper as her second witness. The case has volleyed around the higher court system after Loew's conviction in August 2019. 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.. She said the counseling took place there and the sexual relations at Fields home next door to the center. The emails were made public by Villar during the 2020 Republican primary for the Allegan prosecutor post. 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. Judge Kengis is an Allegan Circuit judge who was assigned the case when Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman recused himself. 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 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. The appointment was made by the Michigan Supreme Court after reviewing applications completed by the candidates. All Rights Reserved. Example video title will go here for this video. 113 Chestnut St. 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. 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 Subscribe:Get unlimited access to our local coverage. 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. 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.". 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. Marcia Johnson. Although Koch didn't directly prosecute the case for the county, she was the supervisor of the assistant prosecutor who did. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Judge Kengis relied on the testimony from the 2018 preliminary hearing in the case for his findings of fact in accepting Fields plea. The sentences run concurrently. Aundria Bowman's body was discovered buried on the Bowmanproperty in Hamilton in February 2020, after Dennis Bowman confessed the location of her body to his wife. Ms. Kochs response acknowledged the criticism and acknowledged the breakdown in procedure. His case was bound over for a jury trial in Allegan County's 48th Circuit Court last month. The case likely will be heard in 2023. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge. Apply today! ", Koch responded, "They do but not typically for CSCs. Soon after election, she was appointed as chief judge, a position she has held for 11 years. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore?. In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the attorneys tohis history with the case. The incidents occurred between September 2015 and early 2018 when he perjured himself during a court hearing. 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 SMC completed its investigation in late September 2017 when they fired Field. "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. Judiciary Courts of the Stt is located at 113 Chestnut St in Allegan, Michigan 49010. [1], If two or more candidates in a race receive the same number of votes, the election is to be decided by lot. "The recommendation was timely as Chief Judge Kengis advises the number of potential jury trials awaiting scheduling is over one hundred. He obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request. They have four children. If you would like to help our coverage scope grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. 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.
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