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Black named 26th Circuit Court judge

Ed Black

ALPENA — Alpena County Prosecutor Ed Black will take over the 26th Circuit Court judgeship vacated when Michael Mack announced his retirement after being suspended amid an investigation by Michigan State Police for undisclosed reasons.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment today.

Black will serve the remainder of Mack’s term, until noon on Jan. 1. Voters will decide in November who will fill the seat thereafter.

Black has been prosecutor since 2009 and before that was an assistant prosecutor in Montmorency County and worked in private practice. He also is a judge advocate general with the U.S. Army Reserve, according to the governor’s office.

He lives in Alpena with his wife, Meaghan, and their three children, Cooper, Andrew, and Emily.

“I believe serving the people of Alpena County means not just hearing, but actually listening to each individual,” Black said in a statement. “It means understanding that justice means different things to different people.” Black said. “To be a good public servant you must care for the people you represent and genuinely want to do what is right, versus what is easy, and be willing to put in the time and effort to do just that.”

The Michigan Supreme Court on Nov. 13 named Judge Benjamin Bolser, a Montmorency County probate judge, to a two-year term as chief judge of the 26th Circuit Court. Bolser immediately suspended Mack from the bench. At the same time, the Michigan State Police confirmed it was investigating Mack, but wouldn’t say why.

In a letter dated Nov. 11, Mack submitted a notice of retirement to the State Court Administrator’s office, effective Jan. 3.

Check back for updates.

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