Gov. Rick Snyder announced three judicial appointments Wednesday. Eric Janes, of Mt. Pleasant, was appointed to the 76th District Court in Isabella County; Gerald “Scott” Pierangeli, of Kalamazoo, was appointed to the Kalamazoo County Probate Court; and Jeffrey Dufon, of Kalamazoo, was appointed to the 36th Circuit Court in Van Buren County."
“Eric, Scott and Jeffrey are highly qualified legal professionals with years of experience, and I am confident they will serve residents in their respective courts well on the bench,” Snyder said.
Janes is a partner at the law firm of Janes, Backus and Janes, where he has served as a general practitioner since 1991. He began his career as a lawyer for the Mt. Clemens-based law firm of Martin, Bacon and Martin. Janes is past-president of the Isabella County Bar Association and is a member of the Isabella County Foundation. He has a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge William Rush.
Pierangeli is an attorney referee for the Cass County Friend of the Court. Prior to taking on his current job in 2013, he served as an assistant Kalamazoo County prosecutor for nearly 15 years. Pierangeli specializes in juvenile law and abuse and neglect cases. He has a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and a law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law. Pierangeli fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Donald Halstead.
Dufon has been an attorney in private practice since 1998, where he has focused on criminal defense and bankruptcy cases. He previously served as an assistant prosecutor in Kalamazoo County for six years. Dufon was recently awarded the 2013 Drug Court Hero Award from the Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals in recognition of his years of work with the sobriety and mental health recovery courts. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Dufon fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Paul Hamre.
Janes and Dufon must seek election in November 2014 to serve full terms, and Pierangeli must seek election in November 2014 to serve out the remainder of a term ending Dec. 31, 2016.
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