Berrien County Getting New Chief Judge

berriencountycourthouse1-2
berriencountycourthouse1-2

There will soon be a new chief judge of the Berrien County Trial Court. At this week’s meeting of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, current Chief Judge Gary Bruce said he’ll be stepping down from that post on January 1. He will remain a judge, and is just leaving the chief judge spot. Bruce thanked the county board for all its support in implementing new court programs over the years.

“Berrien County has always been recognized as a leader in court innovation around the state,” Bruce said. “We were one of the first, if not the first, in the state with video recording. We had the first drug court, the first mental health court, one of just a few counties that had a Swift and Sure sanctions probation program.”

Bruce said the public defender’s office has been another major accomplishment. His replacement as chief judge will be Judge Mabel Johnson Mayfield, the current presiding judge of the Family Division of the Berrien County Trial Court.