Return to Circuit Court MenuEnquirer & News story by Cecil Munson from the 1950’s, probably in connection with the new courthouse in Marshall.
First Judge.
…. First judge to sit in Calhoun County-at a court above the justice level-was William A. Fletcher of Kalamazoo. As a judge of one of the five circuits in the territory, Judge Fletcher was also a member of the supreme court of the territory, for the circuit judges sat en banc to form the highest court of appeals in the Michigan Territory.
When Judge Fletcher came to Marshall and showed his credentials Nov. 7, 1833, the frontier was hardly prepared for the era of law.
His journal notes that there were not enough persons present in response to a grand jury call to form such a body, and that the legal papers for the three pending appeals from the justice court were in such order that trial couldn’t be started. Accordingly he entered in his journal some rules for a circuit court and directed that things be in order when next he was to sit at Marshall. The place of meeting at that time and for the next four years was school or church or auditorium
Enquirer & News Battle Creek Sun. June 20, 1954 and from the 1982 Annual Report of the Calhoun County Circuit Court retained by Judge Kingsley.
…. In mid-century (19th) the far-flung pioneer circuit was cut to the 5th Circuit of Calhoun, Eaton and Barry, with many of the judges coming from Eaton. Judge Benjamin F. Graves served from the end of Judge Platt’s term in 1856 to the election of Judge George Woodruff in 1866. Judges in succession were then Judge Phillip T. Van Zile, Frank A. Hooker and Clement Smith.
When Calhoun became a separate 37th Judicial Circuit in 1901 Judge Smith remained in office in the Barry-Eaton Circuit to 1921.
Succeeding him in Calhoun were H.E. Winsor of Marshall, appointee defeated at the first election a few months later by Joel C. Hopkins of Battle Creek who was succeeded in 1905 by Walter North, first judge to serve a full term. He was reelected continuously to October 1927; when he was appointed to the state Supreme Court and Blaine W. Hatch, judge of probate, (was) appointed his successor. Judge Hatch was elected and re-elected to successive terms until the end of his term on December 31, 1959, making him the longest tenured Circuit Judge in the Circuit. Former State Senator Creighton R. Coleman, of Battle Creek was elected to succeed Judge Hatch and served from January 1, 1960 until he retired April 1, 1982, the second longest tenured Circuit Judge in this circuit. Albion Attorney James C. Kingsley was appointed by Governor Milliken to succeed Judge Coleman and continues to hold that office.
After Judge Steinbacher’s appointment he was elected and served until he died in office, August 11, 1959. Albion Attorney Alfonso A. Magnotta, Sr., was appointed to succeed Judge Steinbacher. Judge Magnotta died in office in May of 1963. Attorney Ronald M. Ryan of Battle Creek was appointed to succeed Judge Magnotta and was later elected. Judge Ryan served until the end of 1974 when he chose not to run again. Calhoun County Prosecuting Attorney Stanley Everett who took office January 1, 1975 and was re-elected in 1980 succeeded Judge Ryan. Judge Everett served until District Judge Stephen Miller was elected in the fall, 1986 election and took office January 1, 1987.
The legislature created a third Circuit Judgeship in the 37th Circuit in 1976. District Judge Paul Nicolich of Battle Creek was elected that year and served from January 1, 1977 until his death, March 24, 1990. Battle Creek attorney Ronald Lebeuf was appointed by Governor Blanchard to fill the vacancy. Calhoun County Prosecuting Attorney Conrad J. Sindt was elected in a special election held that fall and took office January 1, 1991, he was later re-elected and continues to serve.
The fourth judge was added by the legislature in 1992. District Judge Allen L. Garbrecht was elected in November of that year and began his tenure January 1, 1993. He continues to serve.
Circuit Court Reporters
James G. O’Brien points out that he was only the third court reporter to serve after Calhoun County became the 37th Judicial Circuit. The first being Roy Eldred who was hired, after being Dr. J.H. Kellogg’s personal secretary in 1901 and who was succeeded by Paul A. Falke of Marshall.
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Last Updated 2-3-03
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