Proudly Serving Muskegon County

To the Muskegon County Bar Association

Circuit Court Appointed Counsel
District Court Appointed Counsel

The Circuit and District Courts, with the concurrence of Muskegon County administration, have agreed to a reorganization of the Public Defender system in Muskegon County. Essentially, each criminal Court will have Public Defenders assigned to specific judges to handle criminal matters. The Family Division L-GAL system will continue in its current configuration with a change in the salary scale. The courts are developing Local Administrative Orders that will assist in implementation of the system and specifically address matters such as selection criteria, the appointment process, performance reviews and removal for each court. Contracts will be awarded as follows:

District Court:
4 contracts @ $45,000 each to handle misdemeanors and other matter                       adjudicated in the District Court.

Circuit Court:
1 contract @ $65,000, assigned to the ½ time criminal judge

The contractor for the ½ time work will be assigned to Judge Marietti’s court. Judge Marietti serves in the Family Division and has a criminal docket that is 50% smaller than the two full time criminal judges. Our goal is to have awarded contracts by September 19th with the work commencing on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

Anyone with an interest in the Circuit Court criminal work may submit an application and resume to Patricia A. Steele, Circuit Court Administrator, 990 Terrace Street, Muskegon, MI  49442 or to Steelepa@co.muskegon.mi.us on or before 5:00 P.M., Friday, September 12, 2008.

Anyone with an interest in the District Court criminal work may submit an application and resume to Nancy Hennard, District Court Administrator, 990 Terrace Street, Muskegon, MI 49442 or to Hennardna@co.muskegon.mi.us on or before 5:00 P.M., Friday September 12, 2008