Matt Wiese

MARQUETTE — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney to the 25th Circuit Court.

Whitmer announced on Thursday that Wiese will fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Jennifer Mazzuchi. Wiese’s term will begin on Monday, Nov. 27 and expire at noon on Jan. 1, 2025.

Whitmer said in a news release that she is “confident” that Wiese will serve with “distinction and uphold the rule of law.”

“I want to thank Governor Whitmer for this appointment,” Wiese said in the news release. “I am honored to be selected and look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Marquette County as their next 25th Circuit Court Judge. As a prosecutor, I have made every effort to be fair and seek justice, and, as Marquette County’s next Circuit Court Judge, I will strive to make decisions that are fair and just, while treating all who come before the Court with dignity and respect.”

Wiese has served in the prosecutor’s office for over 30 years, including as chief assistant prosecuting attorney from 2009 to 2011. He previously served as a staff attorney for the Battered Women’s Justice Project and as associate dean of students at Northern Michigan University.

During his tenure as a prosecutor, Wiese authored and co-authored grant proposals for the Office on Violence Against Women Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking grant program as well as the Blueprint for Safety, an interagency model community response to domestic violence.

He also assisted in developing and promoting a county-wide law enforcement policy for domestic violence cases in Marquette County.

Last year, Wiese was awarded the Career Prosecutor Service Award in recognition of over 30 years of service as a prosecutor. He received his bachelor of science from NMU and his juris doctor from Vermont Law School.

Wiese said in an email to The Mining Journal on Friday that the Circuit Court will be responsible for filling the vacancy for prosecuting attorney.

Currently the Circuit Court is accepting applications for filling the prosecuting attorney vacancy. According to a vacancy announcement, the position would start on or after Nov. 27 and if elected, would serve for the remainder of the term which expires Dec. 31, 2024.

Residents of Marquette County with a law degree from an accredited law school and member in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan can send in applications to Judge Andrew Griffin at 234 W. Baraga Ave., or email jmuladore@mqtco.org.

Applications need to include a resume and cover letter, list and contact information of at least three references, list of the last three trials that have been tried to a jury and the name and contact information of the judge that presided over each trial and letters of support if desired.

Qualified applicants will be interviewed in person or via Zoom.

In addition to Wiese’s appointment, Whitmer also appointed Lawrence Elassal to the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County and Monique Sharpe to the 36th District Court in the city of Detroit.

Dreyma Beronja can be reached at 906-228-2500 ext. 548. Their email address is dberonj@miningjournal.net.