FORMER 12th DISTRICT COURT JUDGES

Hon. Robert Crary, Jr. 
13th District Court: 1969- 1985, 12th District Court: 1986-1990 


The Honorable Robert Crary was elected by the people of the City of Jackson to the 13th District Court in 1968 along with Judge Theodore Smith. Judge Crary assumed the district court bench January 1, 1969 and served until his retirement 12/31/1990.  Judge Crary passed away June, 25, 1995. 

Hon. Theodore Smith 
13th District Court: 1969

The Honorable Theodore Smith was a municipal judge for the City of Jackson when the legislature created the the district court system in 1968.  Judge Smith was elected a 13th District Court Judge, along with Judge Robert Crary, in the general election of 1968.  Judge Smith's assumed the district court bench January 1, 1969 and passed away shortly thereafter, March 22, 1969.

Hon. Michael Baughman 
13th District Court: 1969
 
The Honorable Michael Baughman was appointed by Republican Governor William Milliken to succeed the Honorable Theodore Smith.  Judge Baughman resigned after 4 months on the bench to return to private practice. 

Hon. Joseph McCullom 
13th District Court: 1969-1975

 
The Honorable Joseph McCullom was appointed to the bench in 1969 by Republican Governor William Milliken to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Michael Baughman.  Judge McCollum served until 12/31/1976.  He was defeated in the general election of 1976 by James M. Justin, who had been serving as chief assistant attorney in the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office.

Hon. David McGarvey 
12th District Court: 1969-1975

The Honorable David McGarvey was elected to the bench in 1968.   Judge McGarvey was elected to the bench in the general election of 1968 along with the Honorable Lysle G. Hall.  Judge McGarvey took the bench 1/1/1969 and served for one term before he resigned to return to private practice in 1976.  Judge McGarvey passed away 4/19/1995.

Hon. Robert Biewend
12th District Court: 1976-1988

The Honorable Robert Biewend was appointed to the bench by Republican Governor William Milliken to succeed the Hon. David McGarvey.  Judge Biewend resigned in 1988 due to health reasons.  Judge Biewend passed away 5/12/1988.

Hon. Carlene G. Lefere (Walz) 
12th District Court: 1991-2002

 The Honorable Carlene Lefere (Walz) was elected in the general election of 1990 to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Hon. Robert Crary from the bench.  At the time of the election, Judge Lefere had been serving as an assistant city attorney for the City of Jackson. Judge Lefere took the bench 1/1/1991 and served two terms until her retirement on 12/31/2001.  Judge Lefere served as chief judge pro tem during her tenure as a district court judge.  Judge Lefere is the only female to serve on the district court bench in Jackson County.

Hon. Lysle G. Hall 
12th District Court 1969-2004

The Honorable Lysle G. Hall was elected to the bench in 1968 along with Judge McGarvey.  Prior to his election as a district court judge, Judge Hall served as a justice of the peace.  Judge Hall took the bench 1/1/69 and served six consecutive terms until his retirement on 12/31/2004.  Judge Hall served as chief judge of the court from 1968 until 1991.

Honorable Charles Falahee, Jr.  Hon. Charles Falahee, Jr.
12th District Court 1988-2007

The Honorable Charles Falahee, Jr. was appointed to the bench in 1988 by Governor James Blanchard.  Judge Falahee was appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Biewend.  Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Falahee was a practicing attorney, specializing in civil law (1977-1988).  Judge Falahee was elected to the bench in 1990 and re-elected to serve two additional terms (1996 & 2002).  Judge Falahee retired from the bench (4/30/07), prior to the expiration of his term.  Judge Falahee served as chief judge of the court from 1991 to 2005.