Cass County interim prosecutor sworn-in through 2028

Nearly four months after stepping into the role of interim prosecutor, Sarah Scoggin was sworn in as Cass County prosecutor on Monday, September 21.

In accordance with Michigan law, Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman appointed Scoggin to the position on May 28 following the resignation of former Prosecutor Victor Fitz.

Fitz resigned amid turmoil between the prosecutor’s office and the Cass County Commission. There was a months-long dispute between Fitz’s office asking for additional funding to give the other prosecutors in his office better pay, however, county commissioners denied it citing their Class Comp study that they had conducted. 

Scoggin initially agreed to serve in an interim capacity, giving her an opportunity to gain experience in the position before deciding whether to serve the remainder of Fitz’s unexpired term, which ends in 2028.

Scoggin has now agreed to serve through the end of the term and may choose to seek election to a subsequent term.

“I have been impressed with the job Prosecutor Scoggin has done since taking over,” Judge Herman said. “She has been prepared and professional in my courtroom. Additionally, I hear nothing but praise for the job she is doing within the courts as a whole, as well as the law enforcement community thus far.”

Since her initial appointment, Scoggin has hired two assistant prosecutors — one temporary and one permanent — and restructured the office’s operational staff, elevating existing employees into higher-level positions.

“Much like the incentive behind my previous work in child protection law, I would say that the strongest impetus to take on this role was the belief that it was the right thing to do,” Scoggin said of both her interim and long-term appointments. “The residents of Cass County deserve to have an individual committed to carrying out prosecutorial functions fairly and effectively, and I feel I have the capacity to do just that.”

Judge Herman said the permanent appointment will provide stability for both Scoggin and her staff.

“This will help build trust, continuity, and consistency between Prosecutor Scoggin and her staff, as well as permitting her to hire additional staff and Assistant Prosecutors who can be confident that there is a settled administration in place,” he said.

Scoggin candidly acknowledged that she had little idea what she was getting into when she agreed to serve as interim prosecutor. In the months since, she said she has learned quickly and abundantly and is excited to continue learning while taking on the challenges of the position.

“Although I’ve worked very hard in my first few months as a prosecutor, it would be foolish of me to believe that I would be seeing any semblance of success here without the support of my loved ones and the entire team working on the front lines and behind the scenes in the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney,” she said. “Our team is comprised of a dedicated, thoughtful, and reliable group of individuals whose contributions make it easier for me to navigate this new role every single day.”

Scoggin was officially sworn in at 4 p.m. on Monday, September 21, in Judge Herman’s courtroom at the Cass County Law & Courts Building.

“Ultimately, I am extremely grateful to be entrusted with the task of serving our community by advocating for the proper administration of justice, and I look forward to doing so with compassion and consideration for the intricacies of each case that comes across my desk,” she said.