The jury found the Defendant guilty based on that evidence. 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. Before that, she worked 28 years as an assistant prosecutor, the last eight as chief prosecutor. Community Volunteer . 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. The Michigan Supreme Court votes on the appointment of chief judges for Michigan courts every two years. 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. He obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request. Call, or visit the court's website if listed above. 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 . Contact Info (269) 673-8471 Questions & Answers Q What is the phone number for Judiciary Courts of the Stt? The Michigan Supreme Court made their current appointments to the courts across the state. "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. In a process run by a county clerk, the candidates choose slips of paper from a box that say either "elected" or "not elected".[2]. Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Michael Buck 13 READS: Muskegon book store asking for help to stay open, continue to promote literacy, 13 On Your Side Forecast: Fog Thursday; Snowstorm Friday. ALLEGAN - Allegan County Commission chairman James Storey points out the Allegan circuit should have a third judge position. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11. On Jan. 1, the Michigan Supreme Court announced Judge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. Subscribe:Get unlimited access to our local coverage. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11 years. More:Appeals court walks back new trial for man after prosecutor, judge emailed during trial. On Jan. 1, theMichigan Supreme Court announcedJudge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. 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. To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. 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. Soon after election, she was appointed as chief judge, a position she has held for 11 years. In Allegan County, the presiding judge of the Family Court is the Honorable Michael L. Buck. 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. Judge Roberts Kengis is the new chief judge of the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan County. Field had been a popular instructor at the college before his dismissal. The defense has not pointed to any ruling showing the judge to be compromised or biased, she said. 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. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER . In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the attorneys tohis history with the case. The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. This case has languished in the system for a few years and our victims deserve to have the ability to go on with their life. All Rights Reserved. I will add that this case was decided by a jury based on the evidence presented in the courtroom. *Please call to verify. 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. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis was asked to disqualify himself from the case and agreed to do so in a hearing Thursday. In the same order appointing Kengis, the Court also reappointed Judge Michael Buck to chief probate court judge for Allegan County and Judge Joseph Skocelas to chief judge of the 57th District Court. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals reversed that decision in a split 2-1 opinion in January this year. 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.. 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. 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 county is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. 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 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. By using this website, you agree to comply with all of the terms of use . Redistricting Maps Take Affect for 2022 Elections. 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. He buried Aundria's body on their property, later moving her body when the Bowmans moved from Holland to the Hamilton area shortly afterward. Kengis was the chief prosecuting attorney when Loew was charged with criminal sexual conduct in 2018. The incidents occurred between September 2015 and early 2018 when he perjured himself during a court hearing. .courts-container hr {background-color:#f0a236;padding-bottom:2px;}, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Michigan Supreme Court ", Koch responded, "They do but not typically for CSCs. 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. 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. 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. Have a news tip? Koch previously told The Sentinel she never discussed the emails with Jipp. 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. The emails were something between idle chat and administrative communication.. The investigation of Field began earlier that summer after the victim told college officials about Fields actions against her. The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. 57th District Court Honorable Joseph S . 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 They claim that Loew did not receive a fair trial. 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. This trooper has been given additional personal training since this investigation. In this case, she was comfortable with the agreement. 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. We routinely discuss cases with the victims, said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. 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. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. 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. Is any of the above incorrect? 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.. Michigan District Courts His case was bound over for a jury trial in Allegan County's 48th Circuit Court last month. Although Koch didn't directly prosecute the case for the county, she was the supervisor of the assistant prosecutor who did. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Bowman, 72, is charged with her murder. Michigan is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. Bowman, 72, is charged with her murder. Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. If any of these apply to you, contact the court to verify they observe the exemption. Loews attorneys are alleging prosecutorial misconduct occurred based on the emails, which they say they learned of in June. 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. 48th Judicial Circuit Court (269) 673-0300, Honorable Roberts Kengis *Not location specific. ALLEGAN Should a criminal defendant in Allegan County get a new trial after claiming he didn't get a fair shake? The sentences run concurrently. 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 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. Loew currently is free while awaiting the outcome of his appeal. The people of Allegan County are served by the Michigan Third District Court of Appeals, a circuit court, district court, and probate court. 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. 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.. 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. Apply today! Neither side objected in court to Kengis'decision to recuse himself. 3283 122nd Ave. The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. Herman was a member of the board of directors of the counseling center where Field worked and where some of the incidents took place. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI -- Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis has been appointed to a recently vacated judgeship with the Allegan County Circuit Court. Dissenting Justice Michael Riordan said reasonable minds could conclude that Bakker was biased in favor of the prosecution. prosecutorial candidate Michael Villar accused his opponent, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Judge Kengis is an Allegan Circuit judge who was assigned the case when Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman recused himself. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Kengis and Bakker have worked closely together over the years when making final decisions on a variety of issues. 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