COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – As early voting is set to get underway in Branch County, voters will be choosing a new between two candidates presenting distinct judicial philosophies.
The special election, triggered by former prosecutor Zach Stempien’s appointment to the 15th Circuit Court bench, pits current County Public Defender Terri Norris against her own assistant public defender, John Vincent.
While both candidates share common ground in their support for specialty courts and diversion programs to address local substance abuse issues, they sharply diverge on how everyday criminal cases should be resolved in the county.
Norris, who previously served as the county’s elected prosecuting attorney from 2009 to 2013, is centering her campaign on a strict, courtroom-tested approach, she advocates for reducing the reliance on plea deals and instead pushing for more cases to go to trial, arguing the community needs highly qualified and aggressive leadership.
Conversely, John Vincent, a veteran defense attorney admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1982, offers a vision focused on modern systemic efficiency. Vincent’s platform prioritizes streamlined, efficient charging processes and an emphasis on alternative resolutions over prolonged trial battles.
No Democrats currently on the ballot.
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