Michigan city names offices for judge who served for 42 years

ROCKFORD, Mich. (AP) - A western Michigan judge who survived an effort to remove him from office for misconduct won't be forgotten in retirement: The city of Rockford is putting his name on its government offices. Rockford's city buildings will be known as the Judge Steven R. Servaas Municipal Complex. Servaas is retiring after 42 years as a District Court judge, with most of those years spent in Rockford, north of Grand Rapids. City Manager Michael Young announced the honor last Friday at a farewell for Servaas. Young says: "I love this man and the city of Rockford loves him." In 2009, Servaas' career was in jeopardy when he was accused of living outside his district and making sexual doodles and inappropriate comments to female staff. The Michigan Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, censured him but declined to remove him from office. Servaas apologized for the jokes and said he believed his move was still within the rules. Published: Tue, Dec 16, 2014