43rd Circuit Court
Cass County’s 43rd Circuit Court processes a variety of different proceedings including criminal matters, domestic relations matters, personal protection orders, juvenile matters, child protective proceedings, adoptions, name changes, emancipations, general civil actions involving claims of $25,000 or more, and appeals.
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Hon. Mark Herman
Circuit Court Judge
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Carol Bealor
Chief Judge
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Sarah Mathews, JD, CCE
Court Administrator & Referee
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Julia Snyder
Judicial Assistant
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Michael Dougherty
Judicial Assistant
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Nicholas Klinger
Bailiff/Paralegal
The 43rd Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in Cass County and has county-wide jurisdiction or authority over all actions except those given by state law to another court, including:
- Criminal matters with the potential for one year or more of incarceration
- Domestic relations matters
- Personal protection orders
- Juvenile matters pertaining to delinquency or criminal activity
- Child protective proceedings
- Parental consent waivers
- Adoptions
- Name changes
- Emancipations
- General civil actions involving claims of $25,000 or more
- Cases appealed from another court or by an administrative agency
- Superintending control over other courts within the judicial circuit, subject to final superintending control of the Supreme Court
Final decisions of the Circuit Court may be appealed to the Court of Appeals.
Chief Judge Bealor and Judge Herman share the Circuit Court caseload. Circuit Court is also assisted by several Attorney-Referees. The Friend of the Court Office also assists families with child support and parenting time issues.
Chief Judge Bealor hears the following:
- Civil actions involving claims of $25,000 or more
- Civil appeals
- Administrative appeals
- Domestic relations matters
- Personal protection orders
- Juvenile matters pertaining to delinquency or criminal activity
- Child protective proceedings
- Parental consent waivers
- Adoptions
- Name changes
- Emancipations
Judge Herman hears the following:
- Criminal matters with the potential for one year or more in jail
- Domestic relations matters
- Personal protection orders
- Cases appealed from another court or by an administrative agency
- Superintending control over other courts within the judicial circuit, subject to final superintending control of the Supreme Court
- Driver’s license appeals
- Criminal forfeiture
Judge Herman presides over Cass County’s Mental Health Court (CMHC) which serves adult criminal defendants with a mental illness. Judge Herman also presides over Cass County’s Swift & Sure Sanctions Probation Program (SSSPP) which serves adult criminal defendants with high recidivism risk.