Congratulations to Ed Black, the new 26th Circuit Court judge.

Black was appointed to the post by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week.

We believe Black is a man of integrity, as displayed by his professionalism while the county’s prosecutor. During that time, Black and the staff he assembled around him showed compassion to victims and empathy toward their situations.

He has been fair and considerate. If a law officer brought to his staff a weak case, he hasn’t been afraid to let the officer know that. On the other hand, on any case he agreed he and his staff should take on, he has insisted that his team give that case 100% of their effort in seeing justice administered.

Given his track record as a prosecutor, we expect his role of a judge will be with that same sense of professionalism.

“Ed Black is a man of integrity who is committed to the law and the community,” said state Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland.

He added that Black will make a good judge for the people of Northeast Michigan.

We agree, and wish him well.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)