Cass County voters know now the next man who will hold the gavel of the county’s top criminal court.

Niles’ Mark Herman narrowly defeated Cassopolis’ Scott Teter for the position of  Cass County Circuit Court Judge during Tuesday’s general election, according to unofficial results from the Cass County Clerk/Register Office. Herman received 8,625 votes to Teter’s 8,483, a difference of 142 votes, or around 2 percent.

Herman will serve a six-year term as the judge of the county circuit court, beginning in January. The judgeship is a nonpartisan position.

Herman has practiced law in the area for the past 34 years, including 22 years as a prosecutor, serving with the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office, Pokagon Band Tribal Courts and Village of Cassopolis. He has also worked as an attorney referee and probate court administrator under judges Herbert Phillipson and Susan Dobrich and a law clerk under Judge Michael Dodge.

For the past 12 years, Herman has worked as a private attorney with Dowagiac’s Magyar Law Office.

The Niles man also has an extensive record of civic service in Dowagiac and Cass County, including membership with the Dowagiac Rotary Club, Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and Dogwood Fine Arts Festival board.

Teter, of Cassopolis, is the former Cass County prosecutor, serving as head of the office from 1996 to 2003. He began his career as a private attorney with Cassopolis’ French and Lawrence law office in 1990 before joining the county prosecutor’s office in 1992.

Since leaving the county prosecutor’s office, Teter has worked with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, as head of the state’s corporate oversight division.

As judge of Michigan’s 43rd circuit court, Herman will preside over all the county’s felony court cases, including trials and sentencing hearings, as well as all civil cases with claims more than $25,000.

The Niles attorney will take over the judgeship from Dodge, of Edwardsburg, who is set to retire from the position at the end of the year after serving as judge since 1982. Dodge was appointed to the position by then Gov. William Milliken, winning his last election during the 2010 general election.