ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI - Allegan County Circuit Judge Kevin Cronin is suing the county over its refusal to pay his attorney fees in a legal spat with his colleague and chief judge,. In 2019, a magistrate and local district court judge approved an order of euthanization after concluding the pit bull was a "dangerous animal." Ex parte communication is not allowed because all parties in a legal matter, including the judge, the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney should all have access to the same information and evidence for a proceeding to be considered fair. What other intelligent reasons could explain the travesty that took place in court that day? The State Bar of Michigan admitted him to practice the following year, and Mr. Machnik gained invaluable legal experience serving as a law clerk to Judges Bakker and Cronin in Allegan County, as an intern with the Cass County Prosecutor's Office, and as associate and partner with several prominent area law firms. First published on January 17, 2022 / 11:22 AM. GRBJ Jobs, ADVERTISE "We think the court wants to hear and have robust conversations on these issues. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met briefly Thursday at a meeting of top diplomats from the Group of 20 nations in the first high-level meeting in months between the two countries. Briefs in the case are expected to be filed within the coming months, at which point oral arguments will be scheduled. Girls high school basketball team forfeits a game because it refused to play against a team with a transgender player, Fox Leaders Wanted to Break From Trump but Struggled to Make It Happen, Not Going to Read That: White House Press Secretary Brushes Off DeSantis Op-Ed, Sunshine returns to SoCal on Thursday but cold temps stick around, Think Twice Before Buying From These 2 Stores, AccuWeather: AM showers before a mild afternoon, Comptroller introduces legislative agenda focused on helping taxpayers, Morning First Alert Weather Update: March 1, 2023. Im sorry but when child support is started it should automatically go without saying that the other parent be allowed the same access to the child (ren) from the beginning until the court of law finds that the parent is undeserving of Parenting Time. Van Essen said that Bakker asked the county to cover Cronins legal bills. My husband was BULLIED into settling. 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 . font-weight: bold; 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. Government, Organizations fighting for Parent's rights, ANY support. The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan has jurisdiction in Allegan County. 100% remote.

} Judge Joseph S. Skocelas is the other district court judge. Judge Barkman and Judge Schlegel are assigned to this division. } non-substantive) matters.". font-size: .9em; In 2002, they were blessed with a vibrant, smart, and beautiful little girl who then blessed my life in early 2010. Koch wasnt the trial prosecutor. }, Margaret Bakker is the chief judge of the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan County, Michigan. Anyone that has an issue with Allegan County should post on my blog. Beyond the law-clerk fiasco, Bakker told Cronin to stop ordering costly transcripts of court hearings, and stop setting 5 p.m. hearings that kept workers late and left the building without security officers. font-weight: bold; You need to be given that opportunity.. 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. Here sits Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker who has made Domestic Violence part of who she stands and fights for. After requesting emails and texts between Koch and Bakker via the Freedom of Information Act, Villar said there were multiple instances of the judge and prosecutor communicating about court cases inappropriately. The case likely will be heard in 2023. Grand Rapids Business Journal has been West Michigan's primary and most trusted source of local business news since 1983. For the record, I love this child like she is my own, going above and beyond making her feel welcome into her second home. The Grand Rapids Business Journal is published by Crain Communications. Bakker joined the Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in March 1982. My message to Beijing is clear: use your influence in Moscow to press for the withdrawal of Russian troops, and do not supply weapons to the aggressor Russia, Scholz said in a speech to German parliament. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. clear: both; It turns out that Judge Margaret Zuzich-Bakker sent emails to prosecutor Myrene Koch during the trial, asking a. Koch said Aundrias friends and family described her as sweet and a protective older sister. Administrator Rob Sarro did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Allegan County has 118,000 people. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Sitting judges had to declare their intentions to seek reelection by March 21. Paul Denenfeld Kent County Hon. Case Number. font-weight: bold; She said they soon realized that Bowman was a suspect in both Doyle and Aundrias cases. Dissenting Justice Michael Riordan said reasonable minds could conclude that Bakker was biased in favor of the prosecution. An Allegan County jury last year convicted Daniel Loew of criminal sexual conduct. background-color: red; Villar is running against Koch in the Republican primary for the prosecutors seat. width: 250px; In another instance, Villar said the emails showed ex parte (one-sided) communication between Bakker and Koch during a trial, in which Villar claims Bakker asked Koch for additional evidence about the case that was not presented to the jury or defense attorney. .widget-row.heading { She was a 25-year-old wife of a U.S. Navy pilot who was deployed at the time of the murder. Koch said she wasn't directly involved in Loew's trial and didn't share the judge's opinions with an assistant prosecutor. This trooper has been given additional personal training since this investigation. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. They had an on-again and off-again relationship since meeting when they were teenagers. 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. What I am hoping to achieve at the VERY least is first and foremost in having Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker removed from the bench. 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. .widget-row.Republican { width: 57%; Yes, we had proof demonstrating why he wasnt a stable factor due to Aneashas own hidden agendas. background-color: #f9f9f9; } [3] The name was coined by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to sound like a Native American word. color: white; After Cronin hired Anderson, Bakker said Anderson would be escorted out if he showed up for work. She awarded sole custody to stay with the mother, and my husband was given less than the bare minimum. [3] Biography Thomas J. LaCross Montmorency County Probate Court Hon. 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. Allegan County will soon have a new Prosecuting Attorney. vertical-align: top; Outside candidates seeking district or circuit court judgeships can file for a place on the ballot through April 19. Don't they have detectives anymore?" The Michigan Supreme Court will ultimately decide after agreeing to hear oral arguments in the case of Daniel Loew. background-color: grey; The current Prosecutor was hand-selected and appointed by Circuit Judge Margaret Bakker in March of this year without any application process whatsoever. Judicial races in Ottawa and Allegan counties will start to take shape over the next few months ahead of the Aug. 2 statewide primary election. "The record does not support even an inference that the emails provided any advantage or altered any tactics by the prosecution," the court said. color: white; 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; If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. 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[1][2] She ran for re-election in 2016. Cronin is also seeking payment of attorney fees related to a Judicial Tenure Commission complaint. Related: Allegan judge to colleague: 'I'm not your junior associate emotional whipping boy'. That was it! Michael G. Mack Alpena County Probate Court Hon. font-weight: bold; 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. My husband walked into that Evidentiary Hearing with literally inch to 1 inch of evidence (proof) in his favor to undoubtedly change custody. Unknown . That isuntil it happens personally! He asked for 2 weeks at Christmas break and 8 weeks during summer break. .infobox p { In Allegan County Circuit Court Monday morning, Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker sentenced 75-year-old Dennis Bowman to 35 to 50 years in prison for second-degree murder in the death of his adopted daughter Aundria. He obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request. "We note, however, that even though Tato is not a dangerous animal as defined by statute, it is concerning that Tato attacked another dog in this manner and the Lopezes were apparently indifferent to their dog's aggressive behavior," Appellate Judge Brock Swartzle wrote in the opinion. He was not given the mid-week visit, and he had to bargain some of his summer Parenting Time just to get Joint Legal custody which was at Aneashas discretion NOT Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker. Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker denied my husbands request to modify his Parenting Time which in fact sealed his fate on failing to comply with the Parenting Time order. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Judge Kent Engle of the 20th Circuit Court's family division and Judge Judy Mulder of the 58th District Court's Hudsonville courtroom are also seeking reelection. This judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. 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! Im not your junior associate you can use as emotional whipping boy., Cronin also posted on a county website: (M)y perceptions are 1) that morale in the Circuit Court office and most of the offices associated with it (Friend of Court, Circuit Court Clerk, Circuit Court probation) is lower than its ever been and sinking, 2) that the principal cause of damaged morale is unfair, unjust, unappreciative, ego-driven, rude, insensitive, disrespectful and arrogant treatment of employees by the administration of the Circuit Court, and secondarily by county administrators, and 3) that the prevailing climate of fear of retaliation effectively stifles employees from candidly expressing their views ..