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October 8, 2021
For Immediate Release
Ottawa County court leader announces retirement
GRAND HAVEN, MI - Court Administrator, Kevin J. Bowling, JD, MSJA, CCE, today announced his retirement effective January 14, 2022. Mr. Bowling is completing a 44-year career as an attorney, court administrator, court consultant, and judicial branch educator. Bowling has served West Michigan as the Court Administrator of the 20th Circuit and the Ottawa County Probate Courts for the past 18 years.
During his tenure, the 20th Circuit and Ottawa County Probate Courts have witnessed several key achievements under Kevin Bowling’s leadership. He has been instrumental in the implementation of the Legal Self-Help Center, the Recovery Court, the Juvenile Justice Institute, multiple court technology improvements, court access improvements, staff and public safety policies and emergency site plans, standardized court processes, the Courts’ comprehensive strategic plans, and increased staff involvement and training. He has also been an integral part of the planning and development of the Ottawa County Courthouse in Grand Haven and the new Fillmore Complex Family Justice Center.
Prior to moving to Ottawa County, Mr. Bowling served in a variety of positions with the Michigan Supreme Court, including State Judicial Educator and Regional Court Administrator. During his tenure at the Supreme Court, he was a key participant in designing, writing, and pilot testing Michigan’s Sentencing Guidelines, among many other special projects in which he played a leadership and pivotal role. More recently, he has been an active leader in the Supreme Court’s “Justice for All” project and has been appointed by the Supreme Court to serve as a Commissioner on the “Justice for All Commission”. Through the local Circuit and Probate Courts, he also assisted the Michigan Supreme Court in the implementation of MiFile among the Michigan courts. In addition, Mr. Bowling served as Deputy Chief of Party for the Nigeria Justice Sector Assistance Project on behalf of the National Center for State Courts.
Mr. Bowling’s passion for quality leadership of the courts is reflected in his contributions as adjunct faculty for the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada; the National Center for State Courts’ Institute for Court Management; the Leadership Institute in Judicial Education; the National Association of State Judicial Educators; and the Criminal Justice Management Institute. He has been an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College. He chairs the national Global Advisory Committee, funded by the Department of Justice, and has been in that leadership position for over several years in addition to being co-chair of the national Joint Technology Committee and past president of the National Association for Court Management.
Mr. Bowling is a well-respected, committed leader in Michigan and across the nation who gives from a “mission heart”. Always trying to connect resources with people toward improvement in the courts, Mr. Bowling has implemented innovations and improvements to the judicial process too numerous to mention in full. Many of these contributions have been acknowledged through him being the recipient of several awards, including the recent “Award of Merit” from the National Association for Court Management and the “Distinguished Service Award” from the National Center for State Courts.
The 20th Circuit, Ottawa County Probate Courts, and the citizens of Ottawa County have been fortunate to have been the beneficiaries of the knowledge, hard work, care, and comprehensive understanding of the courts which Mr. Bowling brings to his position. The Courts honor him in his decision to retire and wish him well in his future endeavors.
A national search will be conducted to fill this position.
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