As judge of the 26th Circuit Court, covering Alpena and Montmorency counties, Black will fight drug crime by supporting treatment and prevention efforts, he said.

Muszynski plans to prioritize the coordination of efforts to stop cycles of crime, she said.

In a decided 68% to 32% victory over Alpena attorney Joel Bauer, Black laid claim to the judgeship to which he was appointed in February by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. He replaced Michael Mack, who resigned last year while under investigation by the Michigan State Police for unknown reasons.

Black’s top priority in coming months is making sure cases move forward efficiently and swiftly, learning from the court’s successes and changing processes that don’t work, Black said.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Viewed from behind a Plexiglas safety shield in the 26th Circuit Court courtroom in Alpena during a criminal hearing on Monday, Judge Ed Black listens to a defendant appearing in the courtroom via teleconference.

Videoconferencing in courtrooms — recently necessitated by safety precautions related to the coronavirus pandemic — is advantageous to all parties in a courtroom and should be continued, Black said.

The Friend of the Court program needs to be improved, but financial limitations — always a factor when the courts consider new programs — will delay that change, he said.

“For now, it just means us working harder and making sure we’ve got our nose to the grindstone,” Black said.

Northeast Michigan has made great strides in working with people in recovery from addiction, including a new chapter of Families Against Narcotics that’s in the works, he said.

The courts need to be a part of that effort, Black said, so “we’re helping them move forward with life and not just toward poverty and incarceration.”

Bauer, in a late night call to Black, was “an absolute class act” as he wished the judge well, Black said.

“I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me,” Black said, “and I plan on diving in and making sure that we do it.”

Muszynski, a Republican who won the right to retain her position with 68% of the vote, said breaking cycles of criminality will continue to be the focus of the prosecutor’s office in coming years.

An assistant prosecutor for the county for the past 11 years before being appointed prosecutor in March when Black moved up to the bench, Muszynski bested Democratic opponent Denise Burke.

Vigorously fighting sexual assault, the abuse of children, and drug crime is crucial in minimizing childhood trauma — which can lead to ongoing and lifelong involvement in the criminal justice system, Muszynski said.

“Over the years, I’ve seen a heck of a lot of cycles,” the prosecutor said.

Those cycles could be interrupted at any point along the way, she added.

Her office will provide a presentation for local law enforcement officers on recognizing and responding to child pornography in the near future, one of many trainings Muszynski wants to continue to offer police as one step in stopping harmful cycles.

Muszunski also plans continued support for the Child Advocacy Center, the Alpena Sexual Abuse Response Team, and Alpena’s innovative Pivot program for at-risk teens.

Courts need to maintain a full-steam-ahead schedule to ensure cases are handled in a timely manner, especially as increasing coronavirus numbers threaten to reduce in-person hearings and trials, she said.

With the election behind her, the prosecutor said she’s eager to focus on moving cases along and finding ways to cut crime off before it starts.

“I’m just looking forward to getting back to business,” Muszynski said.