News File Photo Lora Greene

ATLANTA — Alpena attorney Lora Greene will preside over the Montmorency County probate court, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today.

Filling a vacancy left by retiring Judge Benjamin Bolser, Greene will fill a partial term as probate judge for the county, until Jan. 1, 2023. To serve the remainder of Bolser’s term, through 2024, Greene would have to run for reelection in November 2022.

Greene, an Atlanta resident, owns a private practice in Alpena and serves as public administrator for Alpena County.

Alpena County Circuit Court cases over which Bolser presided in the past year may be reassigned to Greene, but that determination will be made by the State Court Administrative Office, according to Judge Ed Black of the 26th Circuit Court.

Bolser handled some cases that presented a conflict of interest for Black after Black was appointed to the judgeship to fill a vacancy in February 2020.