Eaton County’s district and circuit court benches have undergone a recent shuffle with a resignation and two political appointments in Charlotte.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has made another judicial appointment, less than a week after naming Kelly Morton to the seat vacated by Eaton County Circuit Judge John Maurer. Adrianne Van Langevelde has been appointed to fill Morton’s unexpired district court term.
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On Tuesday, Morton officially began their tenure in circuit court, while Van Langevelde will take over Morton’s previous position in district court on July 22. It is important to note that both judges will serve a partial term, which will end at noon on Jan. 1, 2027.
Both Morton and Van Langevelde have a background in prosecuting domestic violence cases and are alumni of Michigan State University’s law program.
According to the governor, Morton had spent 18 years working as an assistant prosecutor, with the majority of that time being in the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office. During her tenure, she held various roles such as a specialty drug prosecutor, a sexual assault prosecutor, and a domestic violence prosecutor. In 2020, she won a seat on the district bench.
According to Whitmer’s office, Morton’s contributions extend beyond her legal career as she has also been an active member of various committees and organizations. She has served on the Eaton County Domestic and Sexual Violence Coordinating Committee, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and the Eaton County Human Trafficking Task Force. Currently, Morton holds the position of the President of the Siren/Eaton Shelter Board of Directors.
Since late 2020, Van Langevelde has served as a member of the Michigan Parole Board. Prior to this role, he worked as an assistant prosecutor in Eaton and Mecosta counties.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she has an extensive background in the legal field. She spent almost a decade working with the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office and had a brief 16-month stint with Mecosta County in Big Rapids. Prior to that, she worked as a law clerk for Legal Services of South Central Michigan and the Board of Veterans Appeals.
As the domestic violence prosecutor in Eaton County, she exclusively dealt with all cases related to intimate-partner violence, while also serving as the designated prosecutor for child abuse and neglect for a period of three years, according to Whitmer’s office.
During her time on the Charlotte City County, Van Langevelde was actively involved in various committees, including the Tree Board and Parks Committee. Her dedication to the community extends beyond Charlotte, as she has also served on the Eaton County Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team and the Eaton County Domestic and Sexual Violence Coordinating Council.
Van Langevelde expressed his commitment to treating everyone with dignity, respect, and fairness under the law in Governor Whitmer’s release announcing his appointment. He stated that he will work diligently to ensure that all individuals who appear before him are treated justly.
