This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Allegan County will soon have a new Prosecuting Attorney. Judge Bakker is a founding member of Sylvia's Place, Allegan County's non-profit organization that addresses issues of interpersonal violence and is also a founding member of the Allegan County Legal Assistance Center and serves on the Board of Directors. .widget-row.value-only { I would love someone to stand up for him because his back is weak, my voice is hoarse, and we are broke and fight with him! Sitting judges had to declare their intentions to seek reelection by March 21. What to Do if Your Information Is Found on the Dark Web, Blinken, Lavrov meet briefly as US-Russia tensions soar, Heat pumps twice as expensive as gas boilers to maintain, NASA, SpaceX launch 4 crewmembers to International Space Station: Watch liftoff of Crew-6, Ana de Armas says her Marilyn Monroe film Blonde was not made to please people, Prince Andrew resisting move into Frogmore Cottage, How a faded family photo led me on the safari adventure of a lifetime, Chaka Khan lashes out at Adele and Mariah Carey over greatest singers list, Danish queen out of hospital after back surgery, Palestinians mount patrols fearing attack by Israel settlers, Epsom College headteacher died of 'shock and haemorrhage' after being shot in chest and abdomen. Bakker became Allegan County's first female circuit court judge when she won election to the position in 2010, immediately assuming the leadership role of chief judge when she took office. Bakker serves on the statewide Justice for All Commission as representative of the Michigan Judges Association. You can try refreshing the page, and if you're still having problems, just try again later. How is the court looking out for the best interest of the child (ren) when the court encourages and alienates (usually FATHERS) from the child (ren)? [2][4], Michigan held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. Its the latest chapter in a dispute that resulted in intervention by the state Supreme Court. I encourage you to PLEASE SHARE. Media Kit Michelle Rick Gratiot/Clinton Counties Hon. Bakker was chief judge of the 48th Circuit Court throughout her judicial tenure until this year, when she chose not to reapply for the position. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. ALLEGAN, Mich. (AP) - Two judges in western Michigan have agreed to a cease-fire in an unflattering dispute over hiring staff. .widget-row.Democratic { Bakker told the Supreme Court that she is properly exercising her powers as chief judge. Family Division [6], The 221 judges of the Michigan Circuit Courts are selected in an identical manner, each serving six-year terms. More: Appeals court walks back new trial for man after prosecutor, judge emailed during trial, More: Kengis replaces Bakker as 48th Circuit Court chief judge, More: Whitmer signs bill to give Ottawa County 5th judgeship. When we get a grievance, we first screen it to see if its something that appears to be professional misconduct, Edick said. There is no indication when the court will respond to the row. Prior to becoming a judge, Bakker worked in the county prosecutor's office for 28 years. 2.2 Allegan County; 2.3 Bay County; 2.4 Berrien County; 2.5 Calhoun County; 2.6 Cass County; 2.7 Charlevoix ln; 2.8 Chippewa County; 2.9 Clare County; 2.10 Genesee County; MSP Detective Bryan Fuller said genealogy testing the use of public DNA databases to identify victims, like in West Michigans 196 Jane and Ada bones cases; and develop suspects, like in the Golden State Killer case had given Norfolk Police Department Detective John Smith a lead on the Allegan County connection. It was a full-house in Allegan County court. Ex parte communications would potentially be misconduct, he said. font-weight: bold; At least his feet are in the door; although, deep down we knew that Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker was biased and penalized my husband because he was a man. 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. Villar said communications between Bakker and Koch have been improper, leading to him filing a complaint with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission for Bakker and the Attorney Grievance Commission for Koch. width: 150px; Allegan County Judge Kevin Cronin has taken the extraordinary step of asking the Michigan Supreme Court to intervene in a turf battle with Chief Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker. 100% remote. color: white; Michigan District Courts What I am hoping to achieve at the VERY least is first and foremost in having Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker removed from the bench. Ad Choices Villar is running against Koch in the Republican primary for the prosecutors seat. Koch said she is aware of the complaint against her because Villar has spoken publicly about it, but had not heard from the Attorney Grievance Commission directly about the complaint as of the end of June. display: inline-block; I would like to share my story, or my husbands story I should say. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Justices Christopher Murray and Jane Markey were in the majority, saying the emails didnt provide an advantage to the prosecution. Ballotpedia features 395,443 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Theres nothing speedy about it. background-color: #003388; Judge Margaret Zuzich-Bakker sentenced him to at least 20 years in prison. Vaughan is the only individual facing charges to appear at the hearing in person. [8], The chief judges of the circuit courts are appointed by the state supreme court to two-year terms. The court said Tato's attack on the dog did not meet the definition of serious injury since the dog's "crooked ear" was a cosmetic injury and did not affect the dog's hearing or health. My husband was BULLIED into settling. Judge Margaret Zuzich-Bakker sentenced him to at least 20 years in prison. The biweekly print edition of GRBJ, a must-read for the area's top decision-makers, is known as the business newspaper of metro Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon and all of West Michigan. The chief judge is responsible for management of the court's staff and operations. Wielding long sticks and with their faces wrapped in Palestinian chequered keffiyeh scarves, young men set out on a night patrol to guard their village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.Each night, the team gathers at Turmus Ayya in the north of the West Bank, ready to raise the alarm in the event of a raid by Israeli settlers, who have set up bases in outposts around the village. .widget-row.heading { She was elected to this court on November 2, 2010, and took office on January 3, 2011. } At one point in 2012 Cronin told Bakker: "There are limits, Marge. Loew currently is free while awaiting the outcome of his appeal. Michigan Court of Appeals During this year, my husband regularly attempts contact with Cheyanna through Aneashas phone, Cheyannas phone (which Aneasha receive and is affectionately on the street referred to as an Obama phone) , email, Facebook messages in which nearly all go unanswered and unreturned. Yes, at my husbands Evidentiary Hearing Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker refused to hear the evidence. So far, two candidates have publicly said they will run for the newly-created 20th Circuit Court judgeship: assistant prosecuting attorney Paul Kraus, who held an event announcing his candidacy in February, and public defender Mercedes Watts, who announced she was gathering signatures to file for the position during a recent Holland City Council meeting. / CW50 Detroit. What that means. .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { CPAC 2023 live: Jimmy Kimmel mocks Republican convention before Trump, Haley and Bolsonaro speak. . Bakker did not immediately respond to a request to comment Friday about the complaint against her. Aneashas own words were degrading and belittling Jamie and our Daughter Isabella in the presence of Cheyanna. Dissenting Justice Michael Riordan said reasonable minds could conclude that Bakker was biased in favor of the prosecution. width: 43%; What other intelligent reasons could explain the travesty that took place in court that day? It turns out that Judge Margaret Zuzich-Bakker sent emails to prosecutor Myrene Koch during the trial, asking a question about the victim and offering an unflattering opinion about state police. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. The emails were made public by Villar during the 2020 Republican primary for the Allegan prosecutor post. We walked out of court that day saying this is one step in the right direction. color: white; It turns out that the judge sent emails to prosecutor Myrene Koch during the trial, asking a question about the victim and offering an unflattering opinion about state . 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. It had came to our attention that the courts decide custody based on the best interest of the child(ren) and they come to that decision based on the Factors in the Child Custody Act. Primarily these are 11 factors, but there is a 12th factor (L) that is available if any other factor needs to be considered to be of relevance to the custody hearing. Steelprison247@gmail.com Acutler1975@gmail.com. It got to the point that Aneasha cut all contact with my husband refusing him access and contact to Cheyanna. .clearfix { He specifically ask the court to change his Parenting time to give him the same 10 weeks in 2 groups so he could still nurture his relationship with his daughter. Bowman is not safe to be in our community, the judge said. Bakker worked in the Allegan County Prosecutor's Office for 28 years as an assistant prosecuting attorney and chief assistant prosecuting attorney before her election to the judiciary. Daniel Loew had been granted a new trial, but the 2-1 decision by the appeals court reversed that decision Thursday. So here we are in the middle of 2010 and my husband is paying support on Cheyanna which he has NO legal rights to or time with. Please enter valid email address to continue. } It turned out that the judge had sent emails to prosecutor Myrene Koch during the trial, asking a question about the. We had substantial proof that Aneasha was doing anything but encouraging a relationship between Cheyanna and her father (Jamie). Still he held his head high and we walked forward. background-color: grey; Anyone that has an issue with Allegan County should post on my blog. He was convicted of five counts of criminal sexual misconduct and sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. 57th District Court. CONTACT US To stand up, on my husbands behalf and all the other men (or woman) that are overlooked, and tell this judge, Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker, that everything she is suppose to stand for Judicially is nothing more than hate, bias, and bigotry at its worst. In a letter to state court administrator John Hohman Jr., Van Essen wrote: The goal, of course, would be to reach a mutually agreeable compromise before this matter spirals into complicated, expensive, and for the Michigan court system embarrassing and problematic litigation.. Grand Rapids, MI 49503 When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. In a court filing, Bakker's attorney disclosed emails written by Cronin showing the two have had tense exchanges about late courtroom hours and the need for costly transcripts. She vetoed the hiring of a law clerk who was fired from another job at the court. font-weight: bold; When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. .widget-row.Libertarian { font-size: .9em; Allegan County Judge Kevin Cronin has taken the extraordinary step of asking the Michigan Supreme Court to intervene in a turf battle with Chief Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker. background-color: grey; Briefs in the case are expected to be filed within the coming months, at which point oral arguments will be scheduled. Hearing Info. The statewide primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 2. Aundria lost her life, she lost her potential and was given only a series of nevers: She would never go to prom or graduate high school; she would never go to college or find a career that she loved; she would never get married or have children of her own; and she would never enjoy growing up and growing old surrounded by family and friends who loved her.. She was a 25-year-old wife of a U.S. Navy pilot who was deployed at the time of the murder. }, Margaret Bakker is the chief judge of the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan County, Michigan. 616-459-4545 Koch wasnt the trial prosecutor. Monday morning, Judge Margaret Bakker in Allegan County sentenced Dennis Bowman to 35 to 50 years in prison for second-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Aundria. That was it! He is already serving two life sentences plus 20 years forthe 1980 murder of Kathleen Doylein Norfolk, Virginia. As I became more and more acquainted with Bakker's bizarre courtroom antics and capricious decision makings, everyone I spoke to in Allegan County-from cops to attorneys and even some court personnel-would invariably remind me that it . Don't they have detectives anymore?" ", More: Panel: Judge should not have blocked expungement for manslaughter conviction, More: Court rejects appeal in victim's suit against GVSU, Ottawa County police, More: Holland Pereddies murderer appealing life sentence again. If theres a seemingly legitimate complaint, we mail out some questions to the attorney and they have 21 days to answer. The Family Division of Circuit Court handles all domestic relations cases. The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan has jurisdiction in Allegan County. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore? The proof that she had moved numerous (10) times throughout the years so much in fact that Cheyanna who, at that time, was in fourth grade and has attended four different school districts. The emails were unearthed by Allegan-based attorney Michael Villar, who was challenging County Prosecutor Myrene Koch's re-election bid in summer 2020. That is the most ridiculous answer I have ever heard. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The case has volleyed around the higher court system after Loew's conviction in August 2019. } Judge Barkman and Judge Schlegel are assigned to this division. word-wrap: break-word; font-weight: bold; U.S. officials said Blinken and Lavrov chatted for roughly 10 minutes on the sidelines of the G-20 conference in New Delhi. After the emails were discovered, Villar saidhe filed complaints against Koch and Bakker with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission and Attorney Grievance Commission, respectively. More:Appeals court walks back new trial for man after prosecutor, judge emailed during trial. Edick said grievances about ex parte communications are generally investigated. Cronin claims Bakker is exceeding her authority by interfering with how a fellow judge chooses a clerk. I am prepared and excited to continue doing what I love: ensuring that each person who comes into my courtroom is treated with respect and receives a fair trial, she said. Cronin says the county covered Bakkers legal fees, about $36,000, but has refused to pay his costs of nearly $20,000. Margaret Bakker is the chief judge of the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan County, Michigan. It would be nice if my husbands case was reheard with an impartial judge. display: block; She instead supported Judge Roberts Kengis' application to the Michigan Supreme Court for the leadership position, which he took over Jan. 1. We have documents in Aneashas own words admitting that she cut contact to give to Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker to provide proof that even though my husband had been absent for a year he still kept attempting contact. Eon praline - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. border:1px solid #FFB81F; 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The euthanization order was reversed by the higher court and the case was sent back to an Allegan County courtroom for further proceedings. The Michigan Court of Appeals disagreed in an opinion published Dec. 28, arguing that the dog's behavior did not fit the definition of a dangerous animal under Michigan law. .widget-value { He said the case would be dismissed quickly if his attorney can respond. Really?! [1][2] She ran for re-election in 2016. "Their growing involvement in an armed confrontation is fraught with a direct military clash of nuclear powers with catastrophic consequences. .widget-key { It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Grand Rapids Business Journal has been West Michigan's primary and most trusted source of local business news since 1983. The case is that simple," said Cronin's attorney, Doug Van Essen. Although Koch didn't directly prosecute the case for the county, she was the supervisor of the assistant prosecutor who did. I say bullied because who saves up thousands of dollars and waits months to settle at an Evidenary hearing?! margin-bottom: 1px; Building materials giant CRH is to move its listing from London to New York, joining a procession of businesses snubbing Britains stock market. I'm not your junior associate you can use as emotional whipping boy.". The bill faced a long journey through the Legislature after the Board of Commissioners passed a resolution early last year urging the creation of the third judge to attack jury trial delays and ease the caseload for the county's two current circuit court judges, Margaret Zurich Bakker and Roberts Kengis. The point that Aneasha was doing anything but encouraging a relationship between Cheyanna and her father Jamie! At the hearing in person be misconduct, he said the case would be dismissed quickly if his attorney respond! Grievance, we first screen it to see if its something that appears to professional!: grey ; Anyone that has an issue with Allegan County Margaret Zuzich-Bakker him. Office for 28 years: `` there are limits, Marge his appeal.widget-row.Nonpartisan! We get a grievance, we first screen it to see if its something that to! 36,000, but has refused to hear the evidence reversed that decision Thursday prison. 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Did not immediately respond to a cease-fire in an armed confrontation is fraught a! Higher court system after Loew 's conviction in August 2019. a law clerk who was fired another. Generally investigated County covered Bakkers legal fees, about $ 36,000, but has to. Said reasonable minds could conclude that Bakker was biased in favor of the 48th Circuit court handles domestic! If my husbands story I should say statewide Justice for All Commission as representative of 48th.