(COLDWATER) - Lifelong Coldwater resident Zachary W. Stempien was officially sworn in Monday as the new 15th Circuit Court Judge in Branch County.
The ceremony was led by Probate Judge Kirk Kashian and follows Governor Gretchen Whitmer's appointment of Stempien to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge William O'Grady.
Although his judicial duties officially begin April 13, Stempien took the oath early to comply with state law.
The appointment marks a full-circle moment in his legal career. Stempien began his path in the Branch County court system as a law clerk for Judge O'Grady while attending Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.
A 2007 graduate of Coldwater High School, Stempien most recently served as Branch County's elected prosecuting attorney, a position he had held since 2020.
With Stempien moving to the bench, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Norma Geiger will take over prosecutorial duties until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Because of the timing of the vacancy, the prosecutor's seat will appear on the November 2026 ballot for the remainder of the term.
Stempien has also already filed to run for a full six-year term as Circuit Court Judge, meaning voters will see his name on that same November ballot.