Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Wiese has been unanimously elected to serve as president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.

This is quite the honor.

PAAM represents the state’s 83 county prosecuting attorney offices.

According to the PAAM, Wiese has prioritized advocating for victim rights, continuing PAAM’s focus on advancing the professionalism of prosecution, criminal justice reform, and the prosecution of crimes of violence against women during his one-year term.

Wiese will be president from 2020-21.

“I look forward to working with my fellow prosecutors from throughout Michigan, and the excellent professionals and support staff at PAAM,” Wiese said in a statement.

He elaborated, saying the organization has a mission to “seek justice, promote community service and support law enforcement.”

Bill Vailliencourt, PAAM immediate past president, noted Wiese as a thoughtful “prosecutor who is well-respected throughout the state.”

Another past president, Mark Reene, said Wiese is the “ideal person to lead PAAM in these times of unprecedented challenges.”

According to the Marquette County website, Wiese previously served as the chief assistant prosecuting attorney and has over 20 years of prosecution experience.

He has specialized in prosecuting domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and other crimes of personal violence.

Wiese assisted in developing and promoting a county-wide law enforcement domestic violence policy, which has been in effect in Marquette County since 1994.

Active in the community, he also was recognized by the NMU Alumni Association in 2005 with the Civic Leadership Award.

He teaches at Northern Michigan University as an adjunct professor with the criminal justice department and at NMU’s Regional Police Academy and conducts legal update seminars for law enforcement annually throughout the Upper Peninsula.

PAAM was established in1928 with the primary purposes of promoting equal justice in the enforcement of the state’s criminal laws and continuing the education of prosecuting attorneys and other law enforcement officials.

We have no doubt Wiese will continue that tradition.