Michael K. Cooper was appointed by Governor John Engler to the Probate bench in Otsego County in March 2000.
Judge Cooper is a graduate of Hope College and received his Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University. He was a former court officer for the 48th District Court in Michigan and was a pre-hearing attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals from 1978 to 1979. Since 1979 he was in private practice as a law partner with the firm of Dubois, Westerman and Cooper located in Gaylord. He specialized in Family Law. In 1999 he practiced law with the firm of Plunket and Cooney.
As a Chief Judge, Judge Cooper is responsible for all administrative, personnel and policy matters involving the District and Probate Court. Judge Cooper also maintains a full case schedule, which includes preliminary hearings on felonies, all misdemeanors, landlord tenant disputes and civil disputes less than $25,000. He also presides over the drug court, which is an effort to rehabilitate those defendants who are addicted to alcohol or drugs, as well as the Probate Court, which includes estates, guardianships and adoptions. In addition, Judge Cooper handles all juvenile delinquent matters as well as all neglect and abuse cases for Otsego County.
Judge Cooper resides with his family in Otsego County.