The state will pay the $172,000 salary while the county general fund will pick up the approximately $310,000 cost of providing the judges’ benefits, a judicial secretary, a clerk and court attorney.
James Biernat, who was appointed to the bench in 2011, was first named chief judge in 2015 after John Foster retired. Biernat also serves as chief judge of Macomb Probate Court and both divisions of the county court, 42nd District Court, in Romeo and New Baltimore.
Macomb Probate Judge Sara Schimke said the two Macomb Probate judges handle 48 cases per day on their dockets as well as eight to 12 emergency cases each day.
Robert Szalka returned last month to work part-time, three days per week, to train one new deputy register and possibly a second one as well as the new legal services director.
Anthony Baker, DeAnthony’s father, told Faunce he is “burdened with grief, sorrow and an unimaginable void in my heart as I attempt to express the residual pain and devastation caused by the loss of beloved son DeAnthony."