Kengis was appointed to the circuit court judgeship in March 2018 by then-governor Rick Snyder after the resignation of Judge Kevin Cronin. Plaintiff Jonathan King Meyer filed a pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. In August, Bakker also recused herself from hearing the motion for a new trial. Allegan County Sheriff's Office Sheriff. Ballotpedia features 395,436 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Daniel Albert Loew, 26, was convicted by an Allegan County Circuit Court jury of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC), two counts of third-degree CSC and a single count of second-degree CSC. 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). Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. His case was bound over for a jury trial in Allegan County's 48th Circuit Court last month. http://www.allegancounty.org/Government/CC/Index.asp?pt=, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER), 36th Judicial Circuit Court Van Buren County. 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. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11 years. Rick Snyder on Wednesday, Feb. 28 . 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. *county-courthouse.com is not affiliated with the Official US Government, or any state, local, or federal office. 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 In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the. Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Michael Buck On Jan. 1, the Michigan Supreme Court announced Judge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. Rob Kengis. Apply today! Myrene Koch will replace Robert Kengis as Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney on March 19. SMC completed its investigation in late September 2017 when they fired Field. 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. Neither side objected in court to Kengis'decision to recuse himself. 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. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. More:Appeals court walks back new trial for man after prosecutor, judge emailed during trial. If any of these apply to you, contact the court to verify they observe the exemption. All rights reserved. Honorable Roberts A. Kengis . Kengis replaces Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker who had been elected to the circuit court in 2010. Hours: Open Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM 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 two then exchanged several emails about the lack of a medical exam. 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. Download the WZZM 13 app now. Get unlimited access to our local coverage, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Kengis said during Thursdays hearing that the hearing would likely be reassigned next to a judge in Allegan Countys 57th District Court. Kengis replaces Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker who had been elected to the circuit court in 2010. Dissenting Justice Michael Riordan said reasonable minds could conclude that Bakker was biased in favor of the prosecution. This county is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. Bakker was Allegan Countys first female circuit court judge. Loew's attorney, Heath Lynch, argued it's impossible to know whether Koch shared the communications with Jipp and whether trial strategy was altered due to what Bakker wrote in the emails. By using this website, you agree to comply with all of the terms of use . In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election. On Jan. 1, theMichigan Supreme Court announcedJudge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. 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 Judges Jon Van Allsburg, Mark Feyen and Bradley Knoll were reappointed to two-year terms as chief judges of Ottawa County's 20th Circuit Court, Probate Court and 58th District Court, respectively. The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan has jurisdiction in Allegan County. The point is she tried. Before that, she worked 28 years as an assistant prosecutor, the last eight as chief prosecutor. Presiding Family Court Judge, Allegan County, Michigan The sentences run concurrently. 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. Allegan County will soon have a new Prosecuting Attorney. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. Website: http://www.allegancounty.org/Government/CC/Index.asp?pt=, Staff: George R. Corsiglia (Chief Judge), William A. Baillargeon Judiciary Courts of the Stt can be contacted via phone at (269) 673-8471 for pricing, hours and directions. She has been recognized for her volunteer work with South Haven Public Schools and the Allegan County Coordinating Council on Domestic and Sexual Violence. Redistricting Maps Take Affect for 2022 Elections. Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. 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. Community Volunteer . Jan Murray. 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 The victim was a student of Fields at SMC and also went to him for counseling at the Family Center in Dowagiac. Betty Kortman . Sarah Leach is editor of The Holland Sentinel. Bakker was Allegan County's first female circuit court judge. The prosecutor said the emails and information were not shared with the assistant prosecutor trying the case. Lynch said that emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act showed improper communication between the trial judge, Margaret Zuzich-Bakker, and the prosecutor, regarding substantive matters that gave the prosecution a tactical advantage.. The half hour hearing Friday afternoon featured Field being sworn in and agreeing to the no contest pleas on the seven charges. He obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request. Judge Kengis noted that Field will be sentenced before him on Friday, Sept. 10 in Cass County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. Gov. The investigation of Field began earlier that summer after the victim told college officials about Fields actions against her. The Michigan Supreme Court votes on the appointment of chief judges for Michigan courts every two years. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelLeach. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. In 2020, Kengis was elected to the circuit court. 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. She said the counseling took place there and the sexual relations at Fields home next door to the center. Bowman, 72, is charged with her murder. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis was asked to disqualify himself from the case and agreed to do so in a hearing Thursday. The emails were something between idle chat and administrative communication.. The Michigan Supreme Court will ultimately decide after agreeing to hear oral arguments in the case of Daniel Loew. Kengis was the chief prosecuting attorney when Loew was charged with criminal sexual conduct in 2018. Jennifer Garcia. Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below. 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. Assistant Allegan County Prosecutor Emily Jipp called a state police trooper as her second witness. (269) 673-0300, Honorable Roberts Kengis . 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. 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. More:Hamilton man pleads guilty to 1980 murder of Virginia woman, More:Wife: Hamilton man killed their daughter in 1989, dismembered and buried body. Allegan, MI 49010 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. After the trooper left the witness stand, Bakker emailed Koch: This trooper didnt do a very good investigation. 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. 269-226-5014. craig.chindemi@ascension.org. 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. *Please call to verify. Have a news tip? Lynch responded: Thats not the point. "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.". Although Koch didn't directly prosecute the case for the county, she was the supervisor of the assistant prosecutor who did. Loews attorneys are alleging prosecutorial misconduct occurred based on the emails, which they say they learned of in June. Call, or visit the court's website if listed above. Kengis was the chief prosecuting attorney when. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. 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. Jim Wheat, MD. He was convicted of five counts of criminal sexual misconduct and sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. The case will be reassigned to Judge Margaret Bakker. 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. Honorable Michael L. Buck . The defense said the emails show misconduct. 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.. Bowman strangled and stabbed a 25-year-old woman, Kathleen O'Brien Doyle,in her home. 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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis recused himself because he was the county prosecutor when charges were filed against Loew. 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. More:Man wins new trial over email exchange between judge, prosecutor, More:Judges recused from hearing mans request for new trial, More:Allegan man says judge, prosecutor denied him a fair trial. Subscribe:Get unlimited access to our local coverage. [1], If two or more candidates in a race receive the same number of votes, the election is to be decided by lot. 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. This trooper has been given additional personal training since this investigation. If you would like to help our coverage scope grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. 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. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. The jury was thereby improperly influenced.. ", Bakker wrote back, "One more question this victim was not referred for a medical, do you know why?". .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Cheshire Hills Golf Course . Penny Brown . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Judiciary Courts of the Stt is located at 113 Chestnut St in Allegan, Michigan 49010. 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. The status of those grievances is unknown, as the merits of Loew's appeal are still pending. Before taking the bench, Kengis served as the elected prosecuting attorney for Allegan County. The emails were made public by Villar during the 2020 Republican primary for the Allegan prosecutor post. non-substantive) matters.". It was after his arrest in November 2019 for Doyle's murder that he began asking to speak to detectives about the circumstances of Aundria'sdeath. Villar, a private practice attorney, later lost the electionby a handful of votes. 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 victim was 13 at the time of the first reported assault. 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. Ascension Borgess Allegan Foundation Director . The people of Allegan County are served by the Michigan Third District Court of Appeals, a circuit court, district court, and probate court. In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the attorneys tohis history with the case. Beginning January 1, 2022, Judge Roberts Kengis assumed the chief judge leadership of the 48 th Circuit Court. Michigan District Courts Judge Kengis used previous testimony and evidence to show that Field committed perjury when he testified that he had not had sex with the victim, that he had held himself out as a licensed health practitioner when he wasnt, presented a false insurance claim for services rendered to another person, possessed marijuana in his home in 2017 and attempted to commit indecent exposure against the victim. 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. Kengis and Bakker have worked closely together over the years when making final decisions on a variety of issues. 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.. Dobrich said Allegan Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis will preside over the trial, which will take place in Cassopolis. 3283 122nd Ave. Briefs in the case are expected to be filed within the coming months, at which point oral arguments will be scheduled. I will add that this case was decided by a jury based on the evidence presented in the courtroom. 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. 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 is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. 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. The plea agreement was announced Friday afternoon in a court hearing before Judge Roberts Kengis. 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. 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. 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. 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. Koch and her husband married in 1993. 113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI49010 She became a judge on Jan. 1, 2010. In the majority opinion, Murray wrote that while the appeals court recognized the communications were ex parte, such communications "between a sitting judge and a prosecutor do not warrant a new trial so long as the communications focus on administrative or procedural (i.e. In the emails, Bakker wrote to Koch: "This trooper didnt do a very good investigation. "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. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore? 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 same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. 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 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 same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. Field was arrested in the fall of 2017. Friday, Judge Kengis kept Fields bond the same. 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. Judge Roberts Kengis is the new chief judge of the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan County. We routinely discuss cases with the victims, said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. 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.. 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. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage. Koch a 1992 graduate of Michigan State received her JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1999. 48th Judicial Circuit Court The Michigan Supreme Court made their current appointments to the courts across the state. The Michigan Supreme Court is providing the information on this website as a public service. 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. Myrene Koch will replace Robert Kengis as Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney on March 19. Allegan County Prosecutor Myrene Koch disagreed with the retrial order and said her office is considering an appeal. *Not location specific. I did not discuss those communications with the Assistant Prosecutor trying the case. 100% remote. The murder was onlyconnected to Bowman in 2018 when detectives used a genealogy database searchingtechnique toidentify a DNA sample from the decades-old case. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER . Jury trials routinely require two to three days to decide amidst other . Subscribe:Receive 3 months of all-access to The Sentinel's award-winning digital coverage for $1. Field had been a popular instructor at the college before his dismissal. "We think the court wants to hear and have robust conversations on these issues. 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. He was sentenced last November to at least 20 years in prison. Beginning January 1, 2022, Judge Roberts Kengis assumed the chief judge leadership of the 48 th Circuit Court. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Koch was named to the position by Chief Circuit Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker, on Tuesday. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11. JUDGES OF MICHIGAN . Let us know here, 57th District Court Allegan County113 Chestnut Street0.0 mile away, Allegan County Probate Court2243 33rd Street2.2 miles away, 36th Judicial Circuit Court Van Buren CountyCourthouse - Second Floor, 212 East Paw Paw Street12.6 miles away, 2023 Everything-Bytes | Terms of Use & Privacy Policy. My office is contemplating an appeal. In Allegan County, the presiding judge of the Family Court is the Honorable Michael L. Buck. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. They began investigating and recommended she contact the sheriffs department. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals reversed that decision in a split 2-1 opinion in January this year. 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]. The case likely will be heard in 2023. Koch previously told The Sentinel she never discussed the emails with Jipp. Attorneys are alleging prosecutorial misconduct occurred based on the bench, served in the role 11! Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court January,! Volunteer work with South Haven Public Schools and the sexual relations at Fields home next door to the Court! Prosecutorial misconduct occurred based on the icons below prosecutor myrene Koch will Robert! Conversations on these issues and follow her on Twitter at @ cjmuyskens making final decisions on a variety of.... 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