[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE JAMES M. BATZER FOR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE AS A 
         JUDGE FOR THE 19TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT OF MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL HUIZENGA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
Honorable James M. Batzer and his commendable service to Benzie and 
Manistee counties as a Circuit Court Judge.
   Judge Batzer served West Michigan as a circuit court judge for 30 
years. His commitment to the people of West Michigan has been 
exemplified through his long and illustrious career.
   After graduating from Wayne State University with his Juris Doctor, 
Judge Batzer chose to remain in Michigan to practice. Before his 
election to the 19th Circuit Court, Judge Batzer worked a number of 
different jobs helping Michigan's youth. From 1968-1975, he served as a 
Children's Protective Services Worker as well as a Juvenile Delinquency 
Case Worker. He then went on to become a Teaching Fellow at the Detroit 
College of Law, where he taught legal research and writing to first-
year law students. In 1979, Judge Batzer served as an Assistant 
Attorney General for the state of Michigan as well. Judge Batzer was 
later elected to the 19th Judicial Circuit Court on January 1, 1985.
   Judge Batzer has proven his dedication to the courts of Michigan 
throughout his career, and he has been a respected and prominent figure 
in the law community. From 1989-1995, he served as a Member of the 
State Bar Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions, and he served as 
Chair of the committee from 1993-1995. He has also been a member of the 
Northwest Michigan Community Corrections Advisory Board from 1989-2010. 
Judge Batzer was later named as one of the least reversed trial court 
judges in criminal cases in Michigan by the Detroit Free Press, and was 
also profiled by the college textbook, Criminal Justice in America.
   Judge Batzer stands as a shining example of the Michigan Judicial 
System. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Judge James Batzer 
for his service to the state of Michigan.

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