Eaton County Probate Court
Hon. Thomas K. Byerley
The Honorable Thomas K. Byerley is the Chief Judge for the Probate, Circuit, and District Courts for Eaton County, Michigan. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Granholm on April 23, 2009 to fill the vacancy of the untimely death of Judge Michael Skinner.
Before taking the bench, Judge Byerley practiced law with the Okemos firm of White, Schneider, Young & Chiodini, PC, where he engaged in probate and estate planning and general litigation. Before joining that firm, Judge Byerley spent ten years at the State Bar of Michigan, where he served as the Ethics Counsel for all lawyers and judges in the state of Michigan.
Judge Byerley also served as County Attorney for Berrien County between 1988 and 1995, and as an Assitant Prosecuting Attorney for Cass and Berrien Counties between 1979 and 1988, where he handled a substantial number of juvenile, neglect and probate court cases.
Judge Byerley handles cases in the Family Division of the Eaton County Circuit Court as well as handling all traditional probate matters. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University and the University of Toledo College of Law. Judge Byerley has published a number of articles and has taught law courses at the University of Notre Dame and Southwestern Michigan College.
Judge Byerley has been a frequent presenter at continuing legal education seminars, including the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the Michigan Judicial Institute. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Ingham County Bar Association and the Eaton County Bar Association.
Judge Byerley and his wife, Lisbeth, reside in Dimondale, Michigan. They have four grown children and five grandchildren.
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