The prosecution went on into detail what appeared to be several allegations of child abuse tied to a previous case. “Mr. Kolkema had become enraged during an argument he was throwing water on the minor child and actually threw a bottle at the child and the same victim as this matter,” they said. Court documents obtained by 13 ON YOUR SIDE detailed another alleged incident involving one of the victim’s children and a door knob.
[Muskegon Co. judge candidate pleads not guilty in domestic case, prosecutors allege abusive history. WZZM News. September 19, 2022]
“Prior to the date of this alleged incident, there had actually been two prior court orders that prohibited Mr. Kolkema from having contact with this victim’s minor children while she was having parenting time due to the inappropriateness of their relationship,” said Katie Norton, senior assistant prosecutor for the Muskegon County. “There was then a subsequent third order entered to another child based on the fact there were violations of that court order.”
[Muskegon judicial candidate headed to trial for domestic assault. MLive. Sep. 19, 2022.]
“There had been an incident where Mr. Kolkema had become enraged during an argument,” she said. “He was throwing water on the minor child and actually threw a bottle at the child and the same victim as this matter.” Through the investigation, Norton said prosecutors also discovered there have been multiple altercations between Kolkema and the victim that resulted in police contact in both Muskegon and Ottawa counties. “We also learned there had been an active court order prohibiting contact between these two out of Isabella County at the time of this incident,” she added. “The two individuals were not even supposed to be having a contact at the time of this incident.”
[Muskegon judicial candidate headed to trial for domestic assault. MLive. Sep. 19, 2022.]
“We already have had requests from Mr. Nolan’s office that the defendant wants to lift the no contact order so that the victim can be a part of his campaign and parades. It’s ridiculous,” she added. “I have concerns about the safety of the public and Mr. Kolkema’s ability to follow court orders.”
[Muskegon judicial candidate headed to trial for domestic assault. MLive. Sep. 19, 2022.]
Muskegon judicial candidate Jason Kolkema, facing domestic violence charges, loses race
Detroit Free Press
November 09, 2022
Jason Kolkema, the judicial candidate who was captured on camera apparently whipping his girlfriend with a belt this summer, lost in a landslide election Tuesday — defeated by a woman who took 72% of the vote.
Attorney Jenny L. McNeill handily defeated Kolkema 40,834 votes to 15,880, according to Muskegon County’s election results — a victory that has many women's rights activists cheering after they fought for months to keep Kolkema off the bench.
"This is exactly what we needed," activist Lori Rasmussen said of Kolkema's defeat. She and others had spent months protesting Kolkema's candidacy, doing everything from standing on street corners with anti-Kolkema posters to calling businesses and asking them to remove Kolkema's campaign signs.
Social media was perhaps the activists' biggest tool as Facebook posts about Kolkema appeared daily, with video of the alleged beating attached.
"People really listened," Rasmussen said. "We worked really hard to get the word out there."
She stressed: "We kept a very abusive man off the bench."
A history of violent behavior
Kolkema was charged with domestic violence in August after multiple witnesses captured video of what appeared to be him striking his girlfriend with a belt multiple times during an argument in his downtown Muskegon apartment.
He has pleaded not guilty. He and his girlfriend have maintained that he was striking the chair, not her. On Election Day, his girlfriend — who is standing by him — posted on Facebook a photo of her ballot with the box for Kolkema filled in.
The county prosecutor said that it doesn't matter whether Kolkema hit the chair or his girlfriend with his belt; that his actions warranted domestic violence charges. A Free Press investigation also found that Kolkema has a history of behaving violently around women and children, losing his temper and violating court orders.
Kolkema and his attorney have declined multiple requests to be interviewed. He is scheduled to go on trial Nov. 21.
In a Wednesday statement sent to the Free Press, Kolkema congratulated his opponent.
"The best woman won! I would like to congratulate my opponent, Jenny McNeill, for her impressive victory," he wrote. "I have no doubt that she will make a fair judge and look forward to advocating before her on behalf of Muskegon clients."
A promising campaign turned to ridicule
For women's rights activists, who argued that Kolkema is not fit to be judge or to decide the fates of battered women, Tuesday's election results came as a big relief.
Kolkema started out as the frontrunner. He won the August primary with 36% of the vote out of a pool of four candidates. His challenger took 25% in the primary, compared with the 72% she took in the general election.
The criminal charges turned what was once a promising campaign into one of mockery. Foes hung belts on his campaign signs while others blasted him on social media.
"This is the happiest morning I’ve had in a very long time!!!" one woman wrote Wednesday on Facebook, and included an attachment of Kolkema's election results.
Kolkema was running for an open, nonpartisan position on the 14th Circuit Court that became available due to the retirement of longtime Judge William Marietti.
McNeil, a lawyer of more than 25 years and current family court referee, posted to her campaign Facebook page Wednesday morning:
"We did it! Thank you! Thank you! This win is because of all of you working with me. This win is for you."
One commenter noted: "This was the election I cared most about ... Congratulations!"
Domestic violence arrests casts shadow over judge’s race
AP News
October 8, 2022
MUSKEGON, Mich (AP) — A Michigan judicial candidate is facing domestic assault charges partly based on video footage suggesting he hit his girlfriend repeatedly with a belt, prompting local domestic violence advocates to actively speak out against his candidacy.
The candidate’s girlfriend and his attorney deny that he actually struck her.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Jason Kolkema was arraigned on the misdemeanor charges in mid-September. Kolkema, a 51-year-old attorney running for Muskegon County’s 14th Circuit Court judicial seat, contends he was striking a chair with a belt and not his girlfriend as suggested by the video shot by an office worker in a building neighboring Kolkema’s apartment.
“I understand that the optics are bad. I understand the anger and disappointment, especially from the people who voted for me and supported me ... All of the facts will be revealed in due time,” Kolkema wrote on Facebook in response to a comment.
Kolkema has declined to comment to the newspaper, instead referring questions to his girlfriend. His attorney, Terry Nolan, told WOOD-TV in September that Kolkema did not strike his girlfriend and said the incident shouldn’t disqualify him from seeking a seat on the bench.
The woman, who is not identified in the Free Press reporting, told the newspaper she was wearing a headset and that Kolkema struck the chair’s armrest to get her attention. The woman said she took some blame for the incident, writing to the Free Press that “it was rude of me to ignore him.”
The newspaper found court and police records describing earlier violent confrontations involving Kolkema and his girlfriend.
One incident came two days before the videotaped belt strikes. According to Ottawa County court records, Kolkema allegedly spit at the woman’s 12-year-old daughter, threw water on them followed by a Gatorade bottle which missed them but hit a lamp.
Three months earlier, the woman reported to Fruitport police that Kolkema had slapped her. When officers arrived, the girlfriend recanted and Kolkema told police that she “gets like this when she is drunk ... and makes things up.”
The woman told the Free Press that Kolkema has never hurt her or her daughter.
“He never beat me,” she wrote. “He’s not scary or threatening as a person ... Just boisterous, animated.”
Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson, whose office charged Kolkema with misdemeanor domestic assault in the filmed Aug. 18 incident, said it doesn’t matter if Kolkema actually struck his girlfriend that day.
“Domestic violence includes violence that can either be physical, or threatened,” he told the newspaper. “Contact is not required.”
Kolkema’s trial is not scheduled to begin until nearly two weeks after the Nov. 8 election. The footage and subsequent media attention have triggered intense debate in western Michigan.
“I cannot imagine a victim sitting in front of a ‘Jason Kolkema’ and asking him to protect her from an assailant,” said Muskegon resident Heather Fry, who is a domestic abuse survivor and victim’s advocate.
Whatever happened, the scene that unfolded on the video shows “a violent act meant to instill fear,” Fry said.
Supporters on Kolkema’s social media pages have offered support, saying that he deserves the presumption of innocence and that his life should not be destroyed for “one mistake.”
Michigan judicial candidate caught on camera allegedly assaulting girlfriend
Detroit Free Press
October 07, 2022
Michigan lawyer running for judge caught on camera allegedly belt-whipping girlfriend
Tresa Baldas
Detroit Free Press
October 07, 2022
MUSKEGON, Mich. – Two weeks after winning the August primary, judicial candidate Jason Kolkema appeared to viciously whip his girlfriend with a belt during an argument in his western Michigan apartment, presumably unaware that nearby witnesses were recording the scene.
When he noticed the onlookers from his window, the 51-year-old lawyer flashed them the peace sign, and has since claimed the video isn't what it seems: He was striking a chair with his belt, not his girlfriend, the woman and his lawyer have maintained.
But the video triggered criminal charges – and a tsunami of public outrage in the city of Muskegon, which borders Lake Michigan and is about 40 miles northwest of Grand Rapids.
In a scandalous judicial election that has stirred much debate in western Michigan, the topic of domestic violence has taken center stage as women's rights activists fight to keep Kolkema off the bench, arguing he isn't fit to be judge, especially in cases involving battered women and vulnerable children.
'We saw what we saw'
Kolkema, arraigned Sept. 19 on domestic violence charges, has a history of losing his temper, behaving violently around women and children – including spitting on a 12-year-old girl – and has violated court orders, lied about his relationship with his client-girlfriend, battled an Adderall addiction and failed to pay child support, according to a decade's worth of court and police records reviewed by the Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, and interviews with multiple people tied to him and his girlfriend.
"I cannot imagine a victim sitting in front of a 'Jason Kolkema' and asking him to protect her from an assailant," said Heather Fry, a Muskegon mother, domestic abuse survivor and longtime victim's advocate who has sat with scores of victims in court seeking personal protection orders.
"I'm sorry. We saw what we saw. The video is very damning," Fry said. "It was a violent act meant to instill fear."
Kolkema has declined numerous requests for comment, though has addressed the video briefly on his Facebook page, stating:
"I understand that the optics are bad. I understand the anger and disappointment, especially from the people who voted for me and supported me ... All of the facts will be revealed in due time," Kolkema wrote. He was responding to a Facebook commenter who wrote: "We don't support abusers in my community."
Spitting. Shoving. Slapping.
On his campaign website, Kolkema portrays himself as a proud Muskegon native and accomplished lawyer who learned "compassion, empathy and the importance of service to the community" from his homemaker mother.
Court and police records tell a different story.
Two days before the belt incident, Kolkema allegedly spit on his girlfriend's 12-year-old daughter as she slept in his apartment with her mom, despite a court order that prohibited him from being around the girl. He allegedly spewed toothpaste on the girl and her mother, and then threw water on them because he was angry about a previous fight, according to Ottawa County court records. The next day, he allegedly threw a Gatorade bottle at his girlfriend and her daughter but missed and hit a lamp.
Three months earlier, Fruitport police got a call from Kolkema's girlfriend saying, "my boyfriend just slapped me." When police arrived, Kolkema told an officer his girlfriend "gets like this when she is drunk ... and makes things up." The girlfriend then recanted and refused to cooperate. No charges were filed.
In 2013, Kolkema's ex-wife filed a domestic assault complaint with the Fruitport police, alleging that Kolkema shoved her in the back and knocked her to the ground during an argument that occurred while she was picking up her children from his parents' house. "(She) advised that her daughter was visibly upset and crying, because she had seen Jason act like this in the past," the police report states. Kolkema was uncooperative, became "defensive" and refused to answer questions without an attorney. No charges were filed due to a lack of witnesses who could "substantiate the alleged assault."
A year earlier in Ingham County, Kolkema admitted to pulling his ex-wife's hair during an argument that got out of hand, but left after she called police. "(He) stated that he left the marital home before police arrived because he represents a lot of agencies which have pro-arrest policy in relation to domestic violence and was not interested in going to jail," a court filing states. No charges were filed.
That same year, Kolkema triggered a Child Protective Services investigation after he left his ill 6-year-old daughter home alone to drive his older son to a location 20 minutes away. He was "counting on the child being ill and remaining asleep in bed. ... However, (the child) was found by a neighbor wandering outside, upset and looking for father." Kolkema was not charged, though a family court referee said he used "extremely poor" and "highly questionable judgment."
Girlfriend takes blame
Contacted numerous times for comment, Kolkema's attorney Terry Nolan threatened to report the Free Press to police for harassment.
Kolkema deferred comment to his girlfriend when asked whether he could explain to voters his actions in the video, stating: "I'd refer you to what the alleged victim had to say."
The victim says that she's standing by Kolkema and that she's partly to blame for what happened in the apartment that day while cellphone cameras were rolling.
"Jason is a good person (and) has made a positive impact on my life in many regards," the 33-year-old girlfriend wrote the Free Press. "He's done a lot for my children and I don't think this portrayal of him is even remotely fair." The Free Press does not name domestic violence victims or alleged victims without their consent.
According to the girlfriend, on the day in question, Kolkema was trying to get her attention to finish a conversation they had previously started, but she was on a headset and distracted. So to get her attention, she said, he struck a chair's armrest with his belt.
"It was rude of me to ignore him so I do take responsibility for that part," she wrote the Free Press, adding the campaign has "taken on a toll" on their relationship.
The woman also said that Kolkema has never hurt her or her daughter, as alleged in a court filing.
"He's not dangerous. He's never beat me. He's not scary or threatening as a person ... Just boisterous, animated – almost bouncy at times," the woman wrote, adding the video is not what it seems. "It's just not fair to him. … It looks so much worse and different than what it was."
She also added that she and Kolkema did not start dating until February, though police and court records show the two have been romantically involved for three years. Family members have said their relationship started while Kolkema represented her in a civil, parenting-time case involving her three children from prior relationships – all of which involved domestic violence.
Under the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Responsibility, a lawyer "shall not have sexual relations with a client" unless a consensual relationship already existed when the legal representation started.
'Papa, I'm hurted'
On New Year's Day, Kolkema's girlfriend's son got a black eye after getting struck by a door handle at his mom's Grand Haven home, according to an Ottawa County sheriff's report. That night, the 5-year-old boy called his grandfather.
"He said, 'Papa, I'm hurted. I got hit in the eye with a doorknob by mommy's boyfriend,' " the grandfather told the Free Press.
When a Child Protective Services investigator questioned Kolkema about the boy's injury, Kolkema stated that "he had no recollection" of the incident and "didn't recall" being in the house that day, even though the boy and his girlfriend said he was there.
In the door-knob incident, police submitted charges for both Kolkema and his girlfriend, though the Ottawa County prosecutor opted not to charge the couple, concluding "this is a strange set of facts."
Meanwhile, the grandfather, who is the primary guardian of his grandson, is reeling and doesn't want Kolkema anywhere near the boy. He says that Kolkema and his girlfriend are constantly fighting and yelling, that his grandson is harmed by their behavior, and that Kolkema and his girlfriend have repeatedly violated a court order that prohibits the boy from being on unsupervised visits with his mother.
The Free Press is not naming the grandfather to avoid identifying the grandchild.
"I'm just trying to give my grandson a normal life. I just want peace and normalcy for (him)," said the grandfather, adding he was also alarmed by the belt-whipping video.
'Is this really happening?'
It was just before noon on Aug. 18 when women working in a downtown Muskegon office building looked out their window and saw a couple arguing in The Leonard apartment building on West Western Avenue. It was the same apartment that weeks earlier had a huge Jason Kolkema campaign banner in the window.
"You could see him ranting and raving most of the morning," said one of the witnesses, a domestic abuse survivor and mother of three who has requested anonymity to protect her family's privacy. "I told my coworkers, 'I'm really getting worried. I'm going to start recording this.' "
The arguing went on for about 40 minutes. The office workers watched as Kolkema paced the living room, waved his hands in the air, and went room to room – at one point changing out of his blue campaign T-shirt into a white dress shirt.
But eventually things got physical, the woman said, alleging she saw Kolkema grab the woman, who swung back. Then he walked away.
"He put his hands on her and we were like, 'Wow. Did that really just happen?' " recalled the witness, who decided to call the police. As she was on the phone, Kolkema pulled out the belt.
"It was insane. I thought, 'how do I help this person way over there? Is this really happening in front of my eyes?" the woman said, noting the lashings continue to haunt her.
'You could see the belt connecting'
"It was sick, makes you just sick to your stomach, and that's all you can think about for days and days and days," said the woman, adding she is outraged by Kolkema's claim that he hit the chair.
"The video is not as accurate as my eyes," she said. "You could clearly see that belt connecting with her."
Police officers responded to the apartment, where they encountered a "visibly upset" woman who "had a blank stare when they were talking with her. When (she) was asked who she had an altercation with, she stated ‘Jason Kolkema’ but refused to comment on the altercation or what occurred between them,” a police affidavit says, adding officers were unable to see any injuries on the woman as she was wearing a long dress.
Like other witnesses that day, including some who recorded the incident from the street, the office worker decided to post the violent portion of the video on Facebook. To date, it has generated more than 20,500 views. She has turned over the entire 40-minute recording to police.
'Politics plays no role in this'
Within 24 hours of the videotaped incident, charges were filed.
"My office takes the crime of domestic violence very seriously. It really doesn't matter who you are, what your background is, what – if any – influence you have or may not have," Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson said in a Free Press interview. "When it comes to this particular time, it is a very serious issue and we will file charges when appropriate."
Kolkema was charged with misdemeanor domestic assault, punishable by up to 93 days in jail. He turned himself in and posted a $500 cash bond, and on Thursday asked the judge to lift a no-contact order so that his girlfriend can rejoin his campaign, live with him again and help him fight what his lawyer described as "false and misleading information."
"Although the couple have garden-variety arguments, it is not a relationship that can be characterized as abusive," Kolkema's lawyer wrote in a Thursday filing, "and there is no evidence of past incidents of abuse."
Hilson said his office does not consent to the lifting of the no-contact order. An assistant prosecutor was blunt about Kolkema's request that his girlfriend be allowed to campaign.
"It's ridiculous," Assistant Prosecutor Katie Norton said during a September hearing when the request first surfaced. She told the judge that Kolkema has violated multiple court orders and can't be trusted. "I have concerns about the safety of the public, and Mr. Kolkema’s ability to follow court orders.”
During the hearing, Kolkema’s attorney claimed the case was becoming political.
Hilson disagrees.
"Politics plays no role in this whatsoever," Hilson said.
As for claims that the belt hit the chair, not the girlfriend – Hilson said the law sees no difference.
"Domestic violence includes violence that can either be physical, or threatened. Contact is not required," Hilson said, adding: "We're prepared to try this case if that's what Mr. Kolkema wishes."
Kolkema's trial date has been scheduled for Nov. 21 – well past the Nov. 8 election. Kolkema is running for Muskegon County’s 14th Circuit Court judicial seat. He won the August primary with 36% of the vote out of a pool of four candidates. His challenger is attorney Jenny McNeill, a lawyer of more than 25 years and current family court referee. She won 25% of the vote in the primary.
‘You got my vote’
Against the backdrop of his pending criminal case, Kolkema is getting support from folks who believe he deserves the presumption of innocence – a constitutional right that applies to all defendants in the criminal justice system.
“Innocent until proven guilty and we only know one side of the story,” wrote one commenter.
"You got my vote," wrote another, later adding: “I know this man and he is a good man. Should one mistake ruin your life? I don’t think so, and last time I checked it takes two to tangle.”
One day after his arraignment, Kolkema pressed his campaign in a Facebook post: "My experience as an attorney is unmatched and I remain the best candidate to preside over the types of cases within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court in Muskegon County."
Tresa Baldas is an award-winning courts and legal issues reporter and was named the 2020 Richard Milliman "Michigan" Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Press Association. Contact her at tbaldas@freepress.com.
Protests as judge candidate arraigned on domestic violence charge
WOOD TV News
September 19, 2022
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — The Muskegon County judge candidate accused of beating his girlfriend with a belt was in court for the first time on Monday.
Jason Kolkema, a 51-year-old attorney, pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. Prosecutors say witnesses recorded him in mid-August as he allegedly physically abused his girlfriend.
If found guilty, he could face up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Both Kolkema and the girlfriend — who is defending him — say he was hitting the chair she was sitting on, not her.
In court on Monday, Assistant Prosecutor Katie Norton told the judge the couple had multiple documented altercations. In one case, Kolkema allegedly became enraged in front of his girlfriend and her child. He is accused of throwing water and a bottle at them.
Norton told the judge that Kolkema violated multiple court orders, including one that prohibited the couple from seeing each other after a domestic assault in June in Isabella County.
In that case, it was the girlfriend who allegedly tried to hit Kolkema. His girlfriend told News 8 the court orders involved her, not him, so he violated nothing.
He has been ordered to have no contact with his girlfriend as the current charge proceeds through court.
While discussing his bond, Kolkema’s attorney, Terry Nolan, expressed concerns that it was becoming political.
Norton said it is “most certainly not political.”
“We’d actually encourage the court to set this to a speedy trial so we can have a trial sooner and not push it back and make it political,” the assistant prosecutor said. “We’ve already had requests from Mr. Nolan’s office that the defendant wants to lift the no contact order so that the victim can be part of his campaign and his parades. It’s ridiculous. I have concerns about the safety of the public, and Mr. Kolkema’s ability to follow court orders.”
News 8 approached Kolkema after he entered the not guilty plea, but he declined to comment.
Kolkema is running to be a judge in Muskegon County’s 14th Circuit Court. He was the top vote-getter in the August primary and will face one opponent in the Nov. 8 election.
While the court was in session, advocates for survivors campaigned against Kolkema in front of the courthouse and across the street from the office where he was arraigned over Zoom.
“If Kolkema is elected, it will be a massive defeat. A massive sign of disrespect … to women,” protester Donna Pennington said.
One protester said Kolkema getting elected would be “dangerous.” She said the video made her “disgusted” and “horrified.”
“It would be dangerous if he became judge because it would be terrible for our community and it would silence more women,” protester Kristina Forman said.
“Muskegon women are strong and we don’t want to tolerate violence,” protester Ann VanderMolen told News 8. “That’s why I’m here.”
It’s not yet known if the trial will happen before or after the November election.
Muskegon judicial candidate headed to trial for domestic assault
MLive
Sep. 19, 2022
MUSKEGON, MI – A Muskegon County judicial candidate will stand trial for a domestic violence charge after several witnesses said they saw him assaulting a woman inside a downtown Muskegon apartment.
Jason Kolkema appeared before Allegan County District Judge Joseph S. Skocelas on Monday, Sept. 19 for arraignment. Kolkema, 51, pleaded not guilty to one count of domestic violence.
The lone charge, punishable by up to 93 days in jail, stems from an altercation between Kolkema and a “woman he had a dating relationship with,” court records show.
On Aug. 18, Muskegon police were dispatched to the 200 block of West Western Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance.
Four witnesses, some of whom were inside a business across the street, saw the assault through an apartment window, according to an affidavit for the arrest warrant. One witness said she saw the woman being struck multiple times with a belt.
The witnesses each identified the alleged assaulter as Kolkema.
During Monday’s Zoom hearing, while addressing bond, the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office informed the judge of new information they received regarding incidents related to the case.
“Prior to the date of this alleged incident, there had actually been two prior court orders that prohibited Mr. Kolkema from having contact with this victim’s minor children while she was having parenting time due to the inappropriateness of their relationship,” said Katie Norton, senior assistant prosecutor for the Muskegon County.
“There was then a subsequent third order entered to another child based on the fact there were violations of that court order.”
Bond was previously set at $500 cash or surety.
Norton told the judge about a separate August 2022 incident allegedly involving Kolkema and the same victim.
“There had been an incident where Mr. Kolkema had become enraged during an argument,” she said. “He was throwing water on the minor child and actually threw a bottle at the child and the same victim as this matter.”
Through the investigation, Norton said prosecutors also discovered there have been multiple altercations between Kolkema and the victim that resulted in police contact in both Muskegon and Ottawa counties.
“We also learned there had been an active court order prohibiting contact between these two out of Isabella County at the time of this incident,” she added. “The two individuals were not even supposed to be having a contact at the time of this incident.”
Terry J. Nolan, Kolkema’s attorney, said in response, that he was aware of a no contact provision for the victim with his client. However, Kolkema was not under any order to not have contact with the victim.
“Bond is to ensure his appearance and I think Jason’s going to appear for every court matter,” Nolan said while arguing for no changes to Kolkema’s bond.
Nolan said he had no doubt his client would appear for all court appearances.
“I’m unaware of the other issues brought up,” he said in reference to the prosecutor’s allegations. " … He’s running for (Muskegon County) circuit court judge and so I do fear some political ramifications.”
Norton rebutted, saying, “This is most certainly not political.”
“We are treating this no differently than any other case,” she said. “We would encourage the court to set this for a speedy trial so we can have a trial sooner and not push it back and make it political.”
“We already have had requests from Mr. Nolan’s office that the defendant wants to lift the no contact order so that the victim can be a part of his campaign and parades. It’s ridiculous,” she added. “I have concerns about the safety of the public and Mr. Kolkema’s ability to follow court orders.”
The judge ordered bond continue as is, but noted that Kolkema is to have no contact with the victim. A trial date was not immediately scheduled.
Kolkema will face candidate Jenny L. McNeill in the Nov. 8 general election for the open Muskegon County Circuit Court judge position.
Skocelas is presiding over the case after Muskegon County judges recused themselves, court records state.
Muskegon Co. judge candidate pleads not guilty in domestic case, prosecutors allege abusive history
Jason Kolkema has continued to campaign since his August arrest. He will remain on the ballot in November
WZZM News
September 19, 2022
MUSKEGON, Mich. — Muskegon-Area Attorney and Circuit Court Judge Candidate Jason Kolkema said only a few words during one of his first appearances in court Monday morning.
It followed his arrest in mid-August after witnesses reported watching Kolkema beat his girlfriend behind closed doors.
“Do you wish to enter a plea of not guilty or guilty to this charge?” The judge asked.
Kolkema entered a ‘not guilty’ plea during his remote arraignment Monday.
The domestic violence charge against the candidate stemmed from witness reports of an interaction between Kolkema and a woman.
Witnesses, several of whom recorded the interaction, described Kolkema beating his girlfriend with a belt through the floor to ceiling windows of the apartment he rented at the Leonard on Western Avenue in mid-August.
In a video shared with 13 ON YOUR SIDE, the woman appeared to recoil as the belt made contact.
It’s what witnesses allegedly could not see that prompted Kolkema’s attorney to suggest that the candidate had in fact hit a chair out of frustration and not the victim.
Based upon a probable cause affidavit from prior to his arrest, investigators said they couldn’t know whether the victim had suffered injuries because of the long dress she wore when they entered the apartment.
Police later described the victim as visibly upset with ‘a blank stare.’
“Some additional information that has come to light that we do feel the court needs to hear in order to set both an appropriate type of bond, and additional bond conditions if necessary,” the prosecution interjected.
The additional information referenced stemmed from custody arrangements with several of the victim’s minor children, agreements preventing Kolkema from having contact during her parenting time.
They alleged Kolkema had violated the orders on several occasions.
The prosecution went on into detail what appeared to be several allegations of child abuse tied to a previous case.
“Mr. Kolkema had become enraged during an argument he was throwing water on the minor child and actually threw a bottle at the child and the same victim as this matter,” they said.
Court documents obtained by 13 ON YOUR SIDE detailed another alleged incident involving one of the victim’s children and a door knob.
No charges in that case were ever filed.
“My client was not under any order to not have contact with the victim. I'm unaware of the other issues she brought up,” Nolan responded. “My client has no record. My client has never been brought before a tribunal.”
"I hope it's not turning political," Nolan said. "You know, first of all bond is to ensure his appearance. And I think Jason is going to appear for every court matter. He's running for circuit court judge here. And so I do fear some political ramifications."
"This is most certainly not political," prosecutors countered. "This is exactly the position that I'm in day to day is dealing with domestic violence cases. And when I become aware of new information that I think that the judge should hear. We're treating this no differently than any other case."
As the candidate prepared to face trial, Kolkema’s campaign for circuit court judge continued this week.
“We need to make sure that he doesn't get there,” Lori Rasumussen related.
Rasmussen, who led a demonstration in front of the 60th District Court Building Monday said the proceedings underscored the stand she had taken against domestic violence.
The Muskegon-area attorney secured more votes than the three other candidates vying for the same position in the August primary and will remain on the ballot in November.
"With name recognition, when you get to the ballot box and you don't know what's going on, it's very possible that you just choose a name that you know,” Rasmussen shared her concerns.
“We need to make a statement that we cannot tolerate this,” Ann VanderMolen added. “And unfortunately, this was just such a public event.”
If convicted, Kolkema stands to face 93 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.
His next court appearance—a pre-trial conference—will be scheduled by the 60th District Court.
Lawyer: Video does not show judge candidate beating girlfriend
Wood TV News
September 13, 2022
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — The defense attorney for a Muskegon County judge candidate says video does not show Jason Kolkema beating his girlfriend with a belt but rather Kolkema hitting some furniture next to her.
Terry Nolan, Kolkema’s attorney, told Target 8 that the two were arguing and that Kolkema used his belt to strike the chair next to where the woman was sitting. He said Kolkema and the girlfriend say no contact was made.
Kolkema, an attorney himself, is scheduled to be arraigned on a domestic violence charge on Sept. 19. The charge was issued last month after witnesses said they had seen the alleged assault taking place through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Kolkema’s Muskegon apartment. At least two people recorded video of it.
Nolan said the video is “not what it appears to be.” The girlfriend can be seen reacting after the belt strikes, but Nolan argued that is an involuntary flinch away in surprise when she heard the belt hit the chair. He said she did not suffer any injuries.
In the probable cause affidavit that supported Kolkema’s arrest on a domestic violence charge, it was noted that “officers were not able to see any injuries on (Kolkema’s girlfriend) since she was wearing a long dress.”
According to the affidavit, Muskegon police were dispatched on Aug. 18 to an address near The Leonard, the apartment building on West Western Avenue where Kolkema resides.
“Once on scene, officers came in contact with a witness who informed them that she witnessed a woman being struck multiple times with a belt inside the Leonard Apartments,” wrote an officer in the affidavit. “Officers were able to make contact with (3) other witnesses … who informed them that they also witnessed the incident. Witnesses were able to identify the subject striking the woman as Jason David Kolkema.”
The affidavit went on to describe officers’ interaction with Kolkema’s girlfriend.
“Officers noted in their report that (she) was visibly upset and had a blank stare when they were talking with her. When (she) was asked who she had an altercation with, she stated ‘Jason Kolkema’ but refused to comment on the altercation or what occurred between them,” the affidavit says.
But Nolan, Kolkema’s attorney, said witnesses had no way of knowing what was actually occurring between the couple.
“You have to know what’s going on in the apartment and you don’t,” he said. “What it appears from a 100 feet across the street, two floors down, is not what’s going on in the apartment.”
He said after the movement of the belt, both Kolkema and his girlfriend can be seen in the video waving and giving a thumbs up to indicate everything is OK.
Nolan said Kolkema’s girlfriend has reached out to him and said Kolkema wasn’t beating her, isn’t an abuser and that she has never been afraid of him.
“I don’t even think she took this that seriously,” Nolan said. “She thinks he’s a good man, thinks he’d be a great circuit court judge.”
Kolkema is running to be a judge in Muskegon County’s 14th Circuit Court. He was the top vote-getter in the August primary and will face one opponent in the Nov. 8 election.
“He can’t come off the ballot,” said Lori Rassmussen, who used to run the Every Woman’s Place domestic abuse shelter Muskegon and now administers the Muskegon Against Domestic Violence Facebook page. “He’s not going to come off the ballot. So an uninformed voter could get there and still vote for him just by name recognition alone. That’s my concern.”
Nolan said his client, who is in his 50s, has never been arrested before nor charged with a crime. He said the video shows his client simply expressing human feelings.
“This experience is probably going to help him in terms of being a judge, not hurt him,” Nolan said. “I think it helps him, going through the system and seeing what that’s like.”
“He’s just an everyday guy and these things happen to everyday people,” Nolan said.
Pressed on whether he was suggesting that “everyday guys” abuse their loved ones, Nolan said, “No, I’m saying everyday guys are subject to being charged with domestic violence. I believe that to be true. I think this could happen to almost anybody.”
“Do I think it makes him look bad? Yeah,” he added. “I think it makes him look bad. Do I think it disqualifies him? No, I don’t think it should disqualify him.”
“The average person doesn’t get arrested for domestic violence,” Rassmussen retorted.
Rassmussen said as a prospective judge, Kolkema should be held to a high standard.
“We’re going to expect that you’re not involved in violent altercations and abusing your partner,” she said.
She also argued it doesn’t matter whether Kolkema actually struck his partner.
“Any time you’re using a weapon in the direction of somebody, you’re using it for the sake of intimidation and power and control,” she said. “It’s all domestic violence whether it struck her actually or was next to her on the couch.”
A court record from a child custody case involving Kolkema’s girlfriend detailed an additional alleged argument between the couple.
According to the family court document filed Sept. 6th, Kolkema and his girlfriend argued in front of the girlfriend’s child in mid-August.
“The argument that started in the evening resumed the next morning when Jason Kolkema is alleged to have been spitting toothpaste on (his girlfriend and her child) … Kolkema, while angry with (his girlfriend) is alleged to have been throwing water on both of them,” wrote an attorney for the father of Kolkema’s girlfriend’s child.
“Jason Kolkema became upset with (his girlfriend) and threw a Gatorade bottle in the direction of (his girlfriend and her child), however, the bottle missed them and hit a glass,” continued the attorney.
The state of Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission is the entity that investigates and disciplines attorneys who violate the rules of professional conduct.
Michael Goetz, the grievance administrator, told News 8 the commission cannot confirm nor deny the existence of any investigation.
The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, which oversees the conduct of judges, is also precluded from disclosing information on any inquiries.
Lynn Helland of the JTC told News 8 the commission can investigate a judge’s conduct prior to his or her election to the bench, but only if the issue has not been addressed by the grievance commission.
Helland said if the commission determines a judge has violated rules of conduct, disciplinary action can range from a private, cautionary admonition to public censure, suspension or removal from the bench.
The Michigan Supreme Court would rule on the censure, suspension or removal at the request of the Judicial Tenure Commission.
Domestic violence charge makes judicial candidate even more qualified, attorney says
MLive
September 09, 2022
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – A judicial candidate is even more qualified to sit on the bench now that he’s been arrested for domestic violence, according to a Thursday statement released by his attorney.
Muskegon attorney Jason Kolkema, a candidate for 14th Circuit judge, was arrested after several witnesses said they saw him assaulting a woman inside a downtown Muskegon apartment on Aug. 18.
Kolkema’s attorney, Terry Nolan, sent a statement to MLive/Muskegon Chronicle on Thursday, Sept. 8, that says there was “no intentional physical contact” during the incident he termed “simply a private argument.”
Kolkema has been charged with misdemeanor domestic assault, punishable by up to 93 days in jail, involving a woman with whom he’s had a “dating relationship,” according to court records.
He will enter a not guilty plea on Sept. 19, according to Nolan.
“Jason’s campaign has been based on presenting himself as an ‘everyday man’ who understands those facing the legal system and he’ll count this experience as something he believes will help him further understand the plight of those who go before him,” Nolan’s statement says.
Kolkema will face Jenny L. McNeill in the Nov. 8 general election for the Muskegon County circuit court judgeship.
Kolkema, 51, was charged after several people witnessed the alleged assault through an apartment window, according to an affidavit for the arrest warrant.
Four witnesses, some of whom were inside a business across the street, identified the man striking a woman as Kolkema, the affidavit states. One said she saw the woman being struck multiple times with a belt, according to the affidavit.
Police noted in the affidavit that videos of the incident were circulating online.
Nolan’s statement speaks not only on Kolkema’s behalf, but apparently on the victim’s as well. The statement names the alleged victim, but MLive/Muskegon Chronicle has a policy of not naming victims or alleged victims of domestic violence.
“(The victim) insists she had no fear of Jason nor has she ever had any fear of him,” reads Nolan’s statement. “(She) believes Jason is a ‘good man.’”
The statement goes on to say that she “is behind Jason one hundred percent and believes Muskegon County will be best served if he is elected Circuit Court Judge.”
MLive/Muskegon Chronicle has not been able to speak directly to the alleged victim about the statement released or the incident.
“Both parties insist that no intentional physical contact took place and the lack of any injuries proves same,” Nolan’s statement says.
When asked to comment on Nolan’s statement, Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson responded in an email that he couldn’t discuss evidence in the case and stressed that “the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
“However, sufficient evidence has been presented to the Court to support a charge of domestic violence,” Hilson wrote.
Kolkema as well as his victim “apologize” to their families, friends and Kolkema’s supporters, Nolan said in his statement.
Nolan ends his statement by saying, “Hopefully, the court of public opinion will allow him to have his day in court.”
Muskegon judicial candidate allegedly hit woman multiple times with a belt, records show
MLive
August 24, 2022
MUSKEGON, MI – Witnesses told police they saw a man, later identified as a Muskegon-based attorney, strike a woman with a belt multiple times, court records show.
Those four witnesses each identified the man as 51-year-old Jason Kolkema, an attorney running to become a Muskegon County Circuit Court judge, according to an affidavit for arrest warrant obtained by MLive/Muskegon Chronicle.
Kolkema is charged with one count of domestic violence stemming from an Aug. 18 altercation with a “woman he had a dating relationship with,” records state. Kolkema is scheduled to appear for arraignment on Wednesday, Aug. 31, in Muskegon County District Court.
Kolkema will face candidate Jenny L. McNeill in the Nov. 8 general election for the open judge’s position.
In connection to Kolkema’s arrest, on Aug. 18, Muskegon police were initially dispatched to the 200 block of West Western Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance.
Once on scene, officers came into contact with one witness who informed police she witnessed a woman being struck multiple times with a belt inside The Leonard apartments, the affidavit states.
Officers then spoke with three additional witnesses at Rootdown – a business located across the street from the apartment – who informed police they also witnessed the incident.
All four witnesses identified the man striking the woman as Kolkema, the affidavit states.
Once at the apartment, police spoke with the victim and noted in their report that she was visibly upset and had a blank stare when police were talking with her.
When police asked the victim who she had an altercation with, she said, “Jason Kolkema,” but refused to comment on the altercation or what occurred between them, according to the affidavit.
The victim gave officers consent to search the residence. Police located a belt on the bedroom floor. Kolkema was not located inside the apartment.
Officers did not see any injuries on the victim because she was wearing a long dress, the affidavit states.
Police noted in the affidavit that videos of the incident are circulating online.
When contacted by MLive/Muskegon Chronicle for comment about witnesses’ allegations, Kolkema said, “You’ll have to talk to my lawyer.” The call then disconnected.
Kolkema’s attorney, Terry J. Nolan, could not be reached for comment.
Domestic violence is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail. As of Wednesday, Aug. 24, Kolkema remains free on bond.
Candidate for Muskegon County Circuit Court Judge charged with domestic violence
ABC News
August 19, 2022
Jason Kolkema is charged with assault and battery (domestic violence) after a video surfaced online of him allegedly assaulting someone.
Candidate for Muskegon County Circuit Court Judge charged with domestic violence
ABC News
August 19, 2022
Jason Kolkema, 51, an attorney, was charged with assault and battery, domestic violence by the 60th District Court in Muskegon after a video circulated online.
Muskegon judicial candidate charged with domestic violence
Wood TV8 News
August 19, 2022
Muskegon judicial candidate charged with domestic violence
WOOD TV News
August 19, 2022
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — A candidate for Muskegon County’s 14th Circuit Court has been charged with domestic violence.
On Friday, the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office said it was made aware of an alleged domestic violence incident involving Jason Kolkema.
According to Matt Roberts, chief trial attorney for Muskegon County, said witnesses saw the alleged beating taking place through the window of an apartment where Kolkema lives on W. Western Avenue near First Street. The witnesses called Muskegon police who responded to investigate.
At least two people videotaped the incident. The prosecutor’s office is looking for more witnesses or videos of the incident.
Kolkema has since been charged with one count of domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is an extremely serious matter and our office is committed to making sure that justice is served,” Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson said in a press release.
Kolkema turned himself in, Roberts said.
Court records show he posted a $500 cash bond.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 31 at 11 a.m.
Kolkema won the August primary election. The midterm election is Nov. 8.
Anyone who heard or saw or may have video evidence is asked to call Detective Alamillo at 724.6762 or the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office at 231.724.6435.
Candidate for Muskegon County Circuit Court Judge charged with domestic violence
Jason Kolkema is charged with assault and battery (domestic violence) after a video of the assault surfaced online
13 ON YOUR SIDE
August 19, 2022
MUSKEGON, Mich. — Charges have been filed against a candidate for Muskegon County Circuit Court Judge.
Jason Kolkema, 51, an attorney, was charged with assault and battery, domestic violence by the 60th District Court in Muskegon after a video circulated online.
"We remind the public that a criminal charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty," Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson.
The prosecutor's office says the incident happened inside 292 West Western around noon on Thursday.
A video surfaced on social media and allegedly shows who multiple witnesses identified as Kolkema repeatedly striking another person with an object. The video was taken by a witness through the window of The Leonard Building in Muskegon.
13 ON YOUR SIDE has made the decision to not post the video in full online because we recognize it can be triggering for some viewers.
The witness who shot the video wishes to remain anonymous.
In an interview with 13 ON YOUR SIDE, the witness says that they were ordering lunch nearby when they noticed the assault occurring. The witness then began to film the incident and decided later to post it online.
"I feel like a lot of times stuff like this happens and nothing gets done about it and people just get away with it. So I feel like the more I can get it out there, the more people can act on it and there'll be more action on it," the witness said about their decision to post the video.
Multiple other witnesses also say they witnessed the assault and have identified the assailant as Jason Kolkema.
When talking to the witness that filmed the incident, they noted that the parties in the video noticed them filming, Kolkema allegedly walked to the window and gave a "peace sign" then walked away.
When 13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out for comment, Kolkema said "I do not have any comment. I've been advised not to make a statement right now, but my attorney was working on something."
When asked to confirm whether or not Kolkema was in the video, he replied with "no comment."
Kolkema was arrested by the police on Friday and was released on a $500 bond.
Kolkema is running for 14th Circuit Court Judge and is currently an attorney at his law firm, Kolkema Law.
Investigators are asking anyone with video evidence to call Detective Alamillo at 724-6762 or the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s office at 231-724-6435.
Attorney running for judge in Muskegon charged with domestic violence
MLive
August 19, 2022
MUKSEGON, MI – A Muskegon attorney running for circuit judge has been charged with domestic violence following an incident on Thursday.
Jason Kolkema has been charged with domestic assault, according to a press release issued by the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, Aug. 19
The alleged incident occurred inside 292 W. Western Avenue in downtown Muskegon around 11:55 a.m. Aug. 18, according to the press release. The address is The Leonard apartment building.
“We have been working with police who have been conducting a thorough investigation to obtain any evidence of this incident including any video evidence,” the press release states.
Video shot through a window purporting to show the alleged attack has been circulating on Facebook. When contacted Friday morning about the Facebook accusations, Kolkema told MLive/The Muskegon Chronicle he had no comment.
The prosecutor’s office asked for any witnesses or those with video evidence to contact the detective bureau at the Muskegon Police Department at 231-724-6762 or the prosecutor’s office at 231-724-6435.
The assault and battery domestic violence charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail. Kolkema posted a $500 bond Friday and his arraignment has been scheduled for Aug. 31, according to Muskegon County District Court records.
Kolkema was one of the top two vote-getters in a four-way primary election on Aug. 2 for an open judgeship on the 14th Circuit Court.
Jenny L. McNeill was the other top vote-getter and the two are to face off in the November general election.
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Jason Kolkema for Judge
FROM MUSKEGON FOR MUSKEGON
Jason Kolkema was born and raised in Muskegon. He grew up in the Village of Fruitport along with his 6 siblings, most of whom still work, live, and are active in the Muskegon community. His father worked owned a sheet metal shop where Jason worked from a young age. His father taught him the virtues of hard work and enterprise. His mother, who was the youngest of 9 Tardani children is also from the City of Muskegon. As a homemaker who held the family together when his father was working, she taught him compassion, empathy, and the importance of service to the community.
Jason has 3 children of his own: his oldest son, Logan, who recently turned 26; his 21-year-old son, Max, who was recently accepted into the Eli Broad College of Business at MSU where he is studying supply chain management; and his 14-year-old daughter, Estella, who is a brilliant artist and is attending high school.
QUALIFICATIONS
WORK
Jason worked for a municipal defense law firm in Lansing representing municipalities – primarily cities, charter townships, counties, and community mental health authorities – and their employees in civil litigation in both the Michigan and federal courts.
He served as a due process hearing officer receiving appointments from the Michigan Department of Education in disputes between parents and school districts from 1999-2007. He personally presided over dozens of due process hearing requests throughout Michigan, four of which ultimately resulted in the issuance of a decision and order.
In total, 25 years of experience as an attorney handling all types of criminal and civil cases within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court.
VOLUNTEER
Village of Fruitport, Village Council Member (May 2015 - Nov. 2016)Village of Fruitport, Planning Commission (Jan. 2015 - Nov. 2016)Ingham County Circuit Court, Case Evaluator (2003 - 2013)Shiawassee County Circuit Court, Case Evaluator (2002 - 2013)The City of East Lansing, Zoning Board of Appeals (2003 - 2008)Autism Society of Michigan, Board of Directors (1998 - 2002)
EDUCATION
Fruitport High School (1989)Michigan State University (1992)University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law (1996)Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Political Science (MSU)Juris Doctor degree (U of D-M)
SHOW SUPPORT FOR JASON KOLKEMA
Donate to Jason Kolkema's campaign for Circuit Court Judge or show your support with a yard sign. All donations are appreciated.
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Thank you in advance. We'll see you on August 2nd!
