Fort Wayne native joins Allen County bench as magistrate judge

Fort Wayne native Michael T. Douglass has been named a magistrate judge in the Allen Superior Court Civil Division, the courts announced in a statement. Douglass will join the court Jan. 22.

Douglass, 40, is an attorney at Eilbacher Fletcher LLP and a deputy Allen County public defender. As a magistrate judge, he will serve in the court’s small claims division, deciding a variety of civil cases, including landlord-tenant issues, protective order requests, contract disputes and other matters. He previously has served as a deputy prosecutor, family law division magistrate judge and judge pro tem in Allen County.

Douglass replaces Judge Jennifer DeGroote, who served as magistrate judge until being appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb to succeed retired Judge Stanley A. Levine. Douglass is a 2001 graduate of Indiana University and a 2006 graduate of the Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University. He was admitted to the Indiana and Colorado bars in 2006.

“Michael Douglass is a highly-regarded and talented individual with experience in many facets of law, including having already served as a Magistrate” said Judge Craig J. Bobay, administrative judge of Allen Superior Court’s Civil Division. “It’s hard to find someone who can walk in on day one and provide excellent service to the community. We look forward to the contributions Michael will make to the court in the years to come.”

“Serving as Magistrate is among the greatest opportunities an attorney can hope for,” Douglass said. “This is a chance to help people navigate the legal system, settle disputes and deliver justice. I appreciate this opportunity to join the Superior Court Civil Division and look forward to the challenges ahead.”