Another Allegan County judge will review Judge Margaret Zuzich’s Bakker’s decision not to disqualify herself in a case against a former Otsego school board member.
According to court records, the lawyer for Stephen E. Podewell has filed an appeal of Bakker’s decision and it is scheduled to be heard by Allegan County District Court Judge William A. Baillargeon on Monday, July 31, at 2 p.m.
Bakker ruled that Podewell’s argument that she shouldn’t hear the aggravated stalking charges against him involving his former wife because she’d presided over a personal protection order matter involving him wasn’t supported by law or precedent. Bakker jailed for Podewell for violating the court’s PPO after he was charged with the crime. As part of her ruling she said she understood that Podewell didn’t like her decision in the earlier case, but that his recourse in that case was the Michigan Court of Appeals. Bakker said she didn’t have any bias for or against Podewell or his former wife and didn’t know either of them. The court rules, she said, mainly called for judges to recuse themselves if they have personal, family or business relationships outside the courthouse with people who come before them.
Podewell was charged with stalking in April and has since resigned his seat on the Otsego school board.
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