MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A familiar name is running for the upcoming vacancy on the 96th District Court bench.
“I’m here to announce that in 2026, I’m running for judge of the 96th District Court in Marquette County,” said Marquette County Commissioner Bill Nordeen.
Bill Nordeen has been in public service most of his life, having been a seven-term member of the Marquette County Board, where he serves as vice chair. He is seeking to fill the soon-to-be-vacated seat currently held by retiring Judge Roger Kangas, who, by law, may not run again due to age limits.
“In Michigan, you cannot run for judge after you’re age 70, and people are living longer and are healthier, and they really should change that. I mean, Judge Kangas is a very good judge, and it’s a shame that he has to step down,” said Nordeen.
Nordeen, born and raised in Gwinn, graduated from Michigan Tech with an engineering degree and then worked for US Naval Intelligence in Washington, DC, for eight years. He then went to Cooley Law School and has been practicing law in Marquette since 2008.
“I was the co-manager of a project during Desert Shield that was named as the intelligence project of the year for all intelligence services,” said Nordeen.
The father of five is a Democrat, a local business owner, and a volunteer firefighter. Nordeen also serves on the board of directors of numerous civic organizations and nonprofits. Nordeen is seeking a seat on the 96th district court, which differs from the Circuit Court in several ways.
“Circuit Court does felonies and lawsuits over $25,000. District Court is really the People’s Court, and it’s a busy court, and they do things, lawsuits under $25,000, they do misdemeanors and arraignments,” said Nordeen.
If elected, Nordeen would serve a six-year term on the bench and would have to step down from the Marquette County Board of Commissioners.
