The plea agreement was announced Friday afternoon in a court hearing before Judge Roberts Kengis. All Rights Reserved. Briefs in the case are expected to be filed within the coming months, at which point oral arguments will be scheduled. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Bakker was immediately appointed chief judge and served 11 years as chief judge. Jury trials routinely require two to three days to decide amidst other . 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 48th Judicial Circuit Court 113 Chestnut St. Allegan, MI 49010 (269) 673-0300 Judges Honorable Roberts Kengis Chief Circuit Court Judge Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker Circuit Court Judge Honorable Michael Buck Presiding Family Court Judge Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. Website: http://www.allegancounty.org/Government/CC/Index.asp?pt=, Staff: George R. Corsiglia (Chief Judge), William A. Baillargeon 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. More:Appeals court walks back new trial for man after prosecutor, judge emailed during trial. 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. Ballotpedia features 395,436 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. The Michigan Supreme Court votes on the appointment of chief judges for Michigan courts every two years after "an extensive review process," according to the State Court Administrative Office. Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge. 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. 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. Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below. Michigan Probate Courts, Courts in Michigan Michigan judicial elections Judicial selection in Michigan. Allegan, MI 49010, Design By Granicus - Connecting People & Government. ALLEGAN Should a criminal defendant in Allegan County get a new trial after claiming he didn't get a fair shake? The appointment was made by the Michigan Supreme Court after reviewing applications completed by the candidates. This county is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. The people of Allegan County are served by the Michigan Third District Court of Appeals, a circuit court, district court, and probate court. Allegan County Circuit Judge Margaret Zuzich-Bakker (MLive File Photo)Emil Lippe | MLive.com. 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. This trooper has been given additional personal training since this investigation. 113 Chestnut St. The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan has jurisdiction in Allegan County. In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the attorneys tohis history with the case. Judge Roberts Kengis is the new chief judge of the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan County. 100% remote. Dobrich said Allegan Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis will preside over the trial, which will take place in Cassopolis. *Please call to verify. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage. Myrene Koch will replace Robert Kengis as Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney on March 19. The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. 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 sentences run concurrently. I will add that this case was decided by a jury based on the evidence presented in the courtroom. 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. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). She noted that he has already conducted trials in his home county during the pandemic, which should be a help as Cass County starts holding them. Michigan Circuit Court Bakker was Allegan County's first female circuit court judge. Kengis and Bakker have worked closely together over the years when making final decisions on a variety of issues. "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.". He was elected to a six-year term in 2020. After the emails were discovered, Villar saidhe filed complaints against Koch and Bakker with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission and Attorney Grievance Commission, respectively. She said the jury reached the decision. The chief judges will remain in place until the MI Supreme Court reviews applications and makes the next round of appointments in two years. The murder was onlyconnected to Bowman in 2018 when detectives used a genealogy database searchingtechnique toidentify a DNA sample from the decades-old case. More:Hamilton man pleads guilty to 1980 murder of Virginia woman, More:Wife: Hamilton man killed their daughter in 1989, dismembered and buried body. Villar lost the primary election in August and a recount of votes conducted last week affirmed that Koch had won re-election by 19 votes. 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.. . According to testimony from detectives, Bowman claimsthat he and Aundria physically fought and Aundria fell down the stairs, breaking herneck. 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. Herman was a member of the board of directors of the counseling center where Field worked and where some of the incidents took place. 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. He replaces Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker, who served 11 years as chief judge. Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Michael Buck Neither side objected in court to Kengis'decision to recuse himself. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11 years. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. 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. 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 emails were something between idle chat and administrative communication.. Koch previously told The Sentinel she never discussed the emails with Jipp. After the trooper left the witness stand, Bakker emailed Koch: This trooper didnt do a very good 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. Judge Kengis relied on the testimony from the 2018 preliminary hearing in the case for his findings of fact in accepting Fields plea. 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. 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. Presiding Family Court Judge, Allegan County, Michigan The two then exchanged several emails about the lack of a medical exam. Judiciary Courts of the Stt can be contacted via phone at (269) 673-8471 for pricing, hours and directions. Kengis said during Thursdays hearing that the hearing would likely be reassigned next to a judge in Allegan Countys 57th District Court. Field had been a popular instructor at the college before his dismissal. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } Apply today! If you would like to help our coverage scope grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Community Volunteer . 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. "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. 57th District Court Honorable Joseph S . Call, or visit the court's website if listed above. The Michigan Supreme Court will ultimately decide after agreeing to hear oral arguments in the case of Daniel Loew. Jennifer Garcia. Judge Kengis noted that Field will be sentenced before him on Friday, Sept. 10 in Cass County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Beginning January 1, 2022, Judge Roberts Kengis assumed the chief judge leadership of the 48 th Circuit Court. 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. Plaintiff Jonathan King Meyer filed a pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Is any of the above incorrect? 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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 Although Koch didn't directly prosecute the case for the county, she was the supervisor of the assistant prosecutor who did. The emails between Koch and Judge Margaret Bakker showed the two discussing the case while Loew's trial was occurring in Bakker's courtroom. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Soon after election, she was appointed as chief judge, a position she has held for 11 years. Hours: Open Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Kengis was the chief prosecuting attorney when. Myrene Koch will take over for current prosecutor, Roberts Kengis on March 19. 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. Dont they have detectives anymore?, The next morning, Koch replied: They do but not typically for CSCs. In the emails, Bakker wrote to Koch: "This trooper didnt do a very good investigation. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. He obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request. [1], If two or more candidates in a race receive the same number of votes, the election is to be decided by lot. Its one of the most outrageous things Ive seen in my career, defense attorney Heath Lynch, a former federal prosecutor in Grand Rapids, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. The defense said the emails show misconduct. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER . The incidents occurred between September 2015 and early 2018 when he perjured himself during a court hearing. I did not discuss those communications with the Assistant Prosecutor trying the case. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11. Koch has served as an assistant prosecutor since July of 2002, and as the Chief Assistant Prosecutor since last June. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. He was convicted of five counts of criminal sexual misconduct and sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. Bowman, 72, is charged with her murder. 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. Loews attorneys are alleging prosecutorial misconduct occurred based on the emails, which they say they learned of in June. .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 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.. Koch a 1992 graduate of Michigan State received her JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1999. 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.. If any of these apply to you, contact the court to verify they observe the exemption. Villar, a private practice attorney, later lost the electionby a handful of votes. http://www.allegancounty.org/Government/CC/Index.asp?pt=, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER), 36th Judicial Circuit Court Van Buren County. Judge Kengis is an Allegan Circuit judge who was assigned the case when Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman recused himself. Copyright 2023, Wilcox Newspapers. 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. Have a news tip? 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. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI -- Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis has been appointed to a recently vacated judgeship with the Allegan County Circuit Court. They began investigating and recommended she contact the sheriffs department. (269) 673-0300, Honorable Roberts Kengis None of the communications were ever intended to influence or provide advice nor did they. Subscribe:Get unlimited access to our local coverage. Before taking the bench, Kengis served as the elected prosecuting attorney for Allegan County. Marcia Johnson. Ms. Kochs response acknowledged the criticism and acknowledged the breakdown in procedure. By using this website, you agree to comply with all of the terms of use . "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 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 Zuzich Bakker in the role. She has been recognized for her volunteer work with South Haven Public Schools and the Allegan County Coordinating Council on Domestic and Sexual Violence. 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.. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals reversed that decision in a split 2-1 opinion in January this year. Kengis replaces Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker who had been elected to the circuit court in 2010. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. 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 Michigan Supreme Court votes on the appointment of chief judges for Michigan courts every two years. 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. The emails were unearthed by Allegan-based attorney Michael Villar, who was challenging County Prosecutor Myrene Koch's re-election bid in summer 2020. In 2020, Kengis was elected to the circuit court. 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. 269-226-5014. craig.chindemi@ascension.org. Before that, she worked 28 years as an assistant prosecutor, the last eight as chief prosecutor. Subscribe:Receive 3 months of all-access to The Sentinel's award-winning digital coverage for $1. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. JUDGES OF MICHIGAN . All rights reserved. Penny Brown . 113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI49010 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. Assistant Allegan County Prosecutor Emily Jipp called a state police trooper as her second witness. The Michigan Supreme Court made their current appointments to the courts across the state. 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.. 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. Download the WZZM 13 app now. In August, Bakker also recused herself from hearing the motion for a new trial. Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis recused himself because he was the county prosecutor when charges were filed against Loew. 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. Honorable Roberts A. Kengis . AGC investigations are confidential, and investigations of the Judicial Tenure Commission only become public if the commission decides to proceed with a formal complaint against the judge, typically reserved for allegations of serious misconduct. 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. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. Lynch responded: Thats not the point. The appeal was heard by Allegan County District Judge William Baillargeon. Redistricting Maps Take Affect for 2022 Elections. Jan Murray. 13 READS: Muskegon book store asking for help to stay open, continue to promote literacy, 13 On Your Side Forecast: Fog Thursday; Snowstorm Friday. Community Volunteer . Rick Snyder on Wednesday, Feb. 28 . Get unlimited access to our local coverage, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 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. Koch was named to the position by Chief Circuit Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker, on Tuesday. 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. The point is she tried. Betty Kortman . 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. 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. 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. "We think the court wants to hear and have robust conversations on these issues. In Allegan County, the presiding judge of the Family Court is the Honorable Michael L. Buck. SMC completed its investigation in late September 2017 when they fired Field. ", Bakker wrote back, "One more question this victim was not referred for a medical, do you know why?". Bowman strangled and stabbed a 25-year-old woman, Kathleen O'Brien Doyle,in her home. Justices Christopher Murray and Jane Markey were in the majority, saying the emails didnt provide an advantage to the prosecution. Chief Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker 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. In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election. 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. Judge Kengis noted that Field will be sentenced before him on Friday, Sept. 10 in Cass County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. The defense has not pointed to any ruling showing the judge to be compromised or biased, she said. 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 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. The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. *Not location specific. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} Koch and her husband married in 1993. On Jan. 1, theMichigan Supreme Court announcedJudge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. 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 prosecutor said the emails and information were not shared with the assistant prosecutor trying the case. 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. 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. My office is contemplating an appeal. The jury found the Defendant guilty based on that evidence. Dissenting Justice Michael Riordan said reasonable minds could conclude that Bakker was biased in favor of the prosecution. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. We routinely discuss cases with the victims, said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. This collaboration will continue as Bakker supported Kengis decision to apply for the leadership position. 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. Allegan County will soon have a new Prosecuting Attorney. 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. 48th Judicial Circuit 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.". 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Attorney when an advantage to the Sentinel 's award-winning digital coverage for $ 1 documents.They can be downloaded by on. Digital coverage for $ 1 discuss cases with the case of Daniel.... Terms of use South Haven Public Schools and the Allegan County, Michigan! Emails and information were not shared with the assistant prosecutor trying the case emails about the lack a... Of issues the 6th Circuit were unearthed by Allegan-based attorney Michael villar, was! Electionby a handful of votes advance to the United States Court of Appeals reversed that in...