News Photo by Julie Riddle Judge Thomas LaCross, who oversees the Alpena County drug court, presides over Alpena’s 88th District Court courtroom recently.

ALPENA — Judge Thomas LaCross, of Alpena’s 88th District Court, intends to step down from the bench, he announced Monday.

After nearly 15 combined years presiding over Alpena’s family, probate, and district courts, LaCross will retire from the bench at the end of October.

Retirement will offer more time with family, said LaCross, who declared his years on the bench a joyful experience.

“It was intensely interesting, fascinating, and I would have done nothing else,” LaCross said.

Before election to the bench in 2006, LaCross worked as a private practice attorney — including contracted work with prosecution of delinquency and abuse/neglect cases in juvenile court — and spent five years as regional director of Catholic Human Services.

LaCross notified his staff of his impending retirement on Friday. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will appoint someone to fill the judgeship for the remainder of LaCross’s term, which expires at the end of 2024.

LaCross intends to return to private practice upon retirement.