Honorable Matthew Antkoviak,  Chief Circuit Court Judge

Matthew (Matt) Antkoviak was appointed as Circuit Court judge and began serving on August 28, 2023. Judge Antkoviak graduated from the New England School of Law in 1998, and prior to becoming judge, worked in private practice with his father, Peter, and brother, Chris, for almost 25 years. As a private practitioner, he handled misdemeanor and felony cases as a public defender along with family law, real estate, and civil litigation. 

Judge Antkoviak was born and raised in Allegan, Michigan.  He graduated from Allegan High School after spending his junior year as a Page for United States Senator, Carl Levin. He graduated with high honors from Michigan State University in 1995 and returned to Allegan to join his family firm after law school.  Community involvement includes service on the City of Allegan Planning and Parks Commissions as well as Reach the Forgotten, formally Forgotten Man Ministries.  He enjoys camping, woodworking and spending time with his wife and three children. 

Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker, Circuit Court Judge

The Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker was elected to the Circuit Court and began serving January 1, 2011. Judge Bakker graduated from the Detroit College of Law in 1979, after graduating from Michigan State University.  As an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Allegan County starting in 1982, she specialized in litigation, focusing on crimes involving sexual assault, child abuse and neglect and other violent crimes. Judge Bakker is a founding member of Sylvia’s Place, Allegan County’s non-profit organization that addresses issues of interpersonal violence and is also a founding member of the Allegan County Legal Assistance Center and serves on the Board of Directors. Judge Bakker also served as president of the Board of the Center for Women in Transition (now Resilience), Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center, Wings of Hope Hospice and Disability Network/Lakeshore. She currently chairs the Bylaws Committee for the Michigan Judges Association and has been appointed to the statewide Justice for All Commission.

Honorable Emily W. Jipp, Circuit Court Judge

Judge Emily W. Jipp was elected to the Circuit Court and began her term on January 1, 2025. A Kentucky native, Judge Jipp earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Transylvania University in 2005 and graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2009. After law school, she clerked for the Franklin County Circuit Court before beginning her litigation career as a juvenile specialist at the Department of Public Advocacy’s Frankfort Trial Office. In 2012, she joined the 48th Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.

In 2016, Judge Jipp moved to Michigan and started working at the Allegan County Prosecutor’s Office. She later transitioned to private practice in 2020 with Wolf Law Group in Allegan, MI. Before ascending to the bench, Judge Jipp returned to prosecution with the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office.

Judge Jipp is an active member of the Michigan Judges Association (MJA) and the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ). Outside of the courtroom, she enjoys reading, outdoor activities, and DIY projects.

Honorable Jolene Clearwater, Presiding Family Court Judge

Judge Jolene Clearwater is the Probate and Presiding Family Court Judge in Allegan County. She began her judicial career in 2013 as a juvenile and domestic attorney referee and the Director of Family Court Probation with the 48th Circuit Court Family Division in Allegan, Michigan.  Judge Clearwater is a graduate of Valparaiso University (Bachelor of Science), the Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Juris Doctorate, litigation concentration), and Franciscan University of Steubenville (Master of Arts). Through her previous work with the 48th Circuit Court, Judge Clearwater managed community probation and diversion in-home care programs that served both formally adjudicated and informally disposed delinquent youth in Allegan County.  As an Attorney Referee and Deputy Probate Register, she has over a decade of experience conducting hearings on proceedings involving juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, minor guardianships, and parenting time and custody issues.  

She currently sits on the Tribal Court Relations Committee and the Child Welfare Judicial Workgroup, through the State Court Administrative Office. She previously served on the Michigan Continuing Judicial Education Board and the Board of Directors for Mediation Services. Judge Clearwater regularly trains referees, judges, court staff, attorneys, and caseworkers on various topics involving child protection and juvenile delinquency.