From the Desk of Sheriff Abbott – 4/17/2026
Uniform Response did their yearly Defensive Tactics Training/Updates this week. They go over different tactics, scenario’s, hands on moves and practice, new legal updates, etc.
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Sheriff News
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SHERIFF NEWS RELEASE -Rescue of Missing Man
On April 16, 2026, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Van Buren County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 35000 block of Riverview Drive in Waverly Township for a report of a suspicious vehicle.
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SHERIFF NEWS RELEASE #26003448
Sheriff Daniel E. Abbott reports that on April 9, 2026, at approximately 9:15 PM, Van Buren County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 25000 block of M-43 in Almena Township for a reported assault.
Upon arrival and investigation, deputies learned that a 31-year-old Paw Paw man had gone to the residence, where he was sprayed with bear repellent and struck with a blunt object.
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South Haven 4th – 2023 
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Strawberry Festival 2023 
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Our mission is to serve and administer justice in a manner that inspires public trust.
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Meet Our Judges
Hon. Kathleen M. Brickley
Van Buren County Circuit Court
Judge Kathleen M. Brickley has served as Chief Judge of the Van Buren County Courts since 2014, following her appointment to the 36th Circuit Court in 2012. Before joining the bench, she practiced law privately in Kalamazoo from 1990 to 2012 and began her legal career as an associate with Warner, Norcross, and Judd in Grand Rapids. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1988 and her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1985.
Judge Brickley is actively involved in advancing judicial education and professional development across Michigan’s courts. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Michigan Supreme Court Judicial Education Board and sits on the Executive Board of the Michigan Judges Association. She is a former co-chair and current member of the MJA Criminal Committee, as well as a former member of the Michigan Supreme Court Committee on Model Criminal Jury Instructions. In addition, she serves on the Michigan Supreme Court Commission on Fairness and Public Trust and the Michigan Judicial Institute Academic Advisory Committee and is a frequent lecturer for the Institute, helping guide the education and training of judges statewide.
Dedicated to community and collaborative justice, Judge Brickley chairs the Van Buren Community Corrections Advisory Board and serves on the Drug Treatment Court Policy Council. Her leadership and commitment to judicial excellence were recognized with the 2024 Michigan Judges Association Hilda Gage Award for Judicial Excellence.
Hon. Susan Metzger
Van Buren County Probate Court
Susan Metzger was appointed in February 2024 by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve as Judge of the Van Buren County Probate Court in Michigan, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Judge David J. DiStefano. Prior to her appointment, she maintained a solo legal practice with a focus on domestic relations mediation and arbitration, and worked under contract with the Van Buren County court system in areas such as juvenile court, women’s treatment court, reunification court and sobriety court.
Judge Metzger received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the College of Charleston and earned her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She was admitted to the Michigan bar on December 23, 2003. As she begins her judicial role, she has emphasized her commitment to administering justice with fairness, compassion and integrity, and to enhancing the wellbeing of the community she serves.
Hon. Jeffrey J. Dufon
Van Buren County Circuit Court
Judge Jeffrey J. Dufon serves as a Circuit Court Judge in the 36th Circuit Court of Van Buren County, Michigan. He was appointed to the bench on November 26, 2013, by Governor Rick Snyder and subsequently elected in 2014. Judge Dufon holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and earned his Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Before joining the judiciary, Judge Dufon practiced law privately with a focus on criminal defense and bankruptcy matters. He also served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Kalamazoo County. Since his appointment, he has served full-time in the Family Division of the Circuit Court, presiding over all family-division case types except adoptions and divorces without children.
Hon. Michael T. McKay
Van Buren County District Court
Michael T. McKay currently serves as a judge in the 7th District Court of Van Buren County, Michigan, having been elected to the bench in 2016. Before his judicial career, Judge McKay served with the Michigan State Police, working as a state trooper for ten years until being medically retired due to on-duty injuries.
After retiring from the state police, Judge McKay earned his Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law, graduating with honors, and began working in both the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office and the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office. His prosecutorial experience included a wide range of criminal matters—from drunk driving to assault, embezzlement and murder cases. He was also a part of the Drug Treatment Court and Mental Health Recovery Court.
Judge McKay currently presides over both the men’s and women’s Drug Treatment Court. He is also a legal instructor at the Kalamazoo Valley Police Academy and the Lake Michigan Police Academy.
Hon. Arthur H. Clarke III
Van Buren County District Court
Judge Arthur H. Clarke III serves as Judge of the West Division of the 7th District Court in Van Buren County, Michigan, based in South Haven. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in 1975 and his Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1978, that same year he was admitted to the Michigan Bar.
Before his judicial appointment, Judge Clarke practiced law privately in Michigan for several years, handling a broad range of legal matters. As a judge, he has overseen specialty court programs in Van Buren County, including the Sobriety Court and other therapeutic justice initiatives that integrate rehabilitation with public safety.
Outside the courtroom, Judge Clarke remains active in the local legal community and in initiatives focused on reducing recidivism and supporting community well-being. His leadership in specialty court programs reflects his commitment to applying evidence-based approaches to promote fairness and long-term positive outcomes within the justice system.
