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Tuscola County Magistrate Retiring and a Replacement Hired
Mary Drier/Mike Kaufman
Fri, 13 Mar 2026 04:00:21 EDT
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On Thursday, Tuscola County Commissioners learned the magistrate is retiring.
Commissioners approved Circuit Judge Amy Grace Gierhart's request to appoint Attorney Alexandra Huntley as the 71-B District Court magistrate to replace Joseph A. VanAuken of Cass City who became the magistrate in 2001.
As a magistrate, Huntley will handle arraignments, set bonds, preside over preliminary examinations for various criminal cases, and more.
In other court related matters, commissioners approved the $4,441 purchase of a wide-screen television and rolling cart to be used in court to present evidence during jury trials.
Van Auken graduated from the Thomas Cooley Law School in 1990 and was a private practicing attorney until he took over the magistrate position.
VanAuken and his wife Kate, who is the White Pine Library Cooperative director, have two children.
