The Honorable Judge James Martin Batzer, age 81, of Manistee, Michigan, died August 28, 2025, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Michigan. He was born December 14, 1943 in Manistee to William Reinhold Batzer and Rose Ethel (Dontz) Batzer.
Jim grew up the middle son in a loving family. He and his brothers, friends, and cousins shared many adventures together. Jim graduated from Manistee High School in 1961. He looked forward to every reunion and catching up with classmates, and recently attended their 66th class reunion.
Following high school Jim attended Albion College majoring in English. While at Albion he worked in the Eat Shop, which is still in operation.
Jim left Albion in 1964 following the death of his father to work aboard the freighter, the Richard J. Reiss on the Great Lakes for two seasons. He was familiar with working the Great Lakes as his father spent his career sailing them as an Engineer for the M.A. Hanna Line. Jim then traveled to Europe, including traveling behind the Iron Curtain. He visited East Germany with a friend who had been an exchange student at Manistee High his senior year.
In February 1965 he married his first wife, Nancy L. Housman in Plymouth, Michigan. Together they had three daughters: Meg, Martie, and Christine, whom he loved very much.
Jim attended the University of Michigan graduating in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. He graduated with a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University in 1976, and earned his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University in 1978. While at Wayne State Law School, he won the Murphy Award for writing the best paper of that year. Jim also won the Book Award in Constitutional Law and Criminal Procedure for earning the highest grade in each course.
From 1968-1975, Jim served as a Children's Protective Services (CPS) Worker as well as a Juvenile Delinquency Caseworker for the State of Michigan in Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. At CPS he fought to protect the safety and welfare of every child. While there, Jim wrote several CPS legal policies and procedures, some of which still provide framework for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services agency policies today.
In 1979, Jim began serving as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan in the Mental Health Division under Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley. In this position, Jim worked in many different fields of law, including federal constitutional law, in federal and state courts, civil rights defense law, tort defense and medical malpractice, among others.
Still having deep ties and fondness for Manistee, Jim decided to run for Circuit Judge of Manistee and Benzie counties. It was not only a career goal, but an opportunity to move his family and raise his daughters in his beloved hometown. In 1984 Jim was overwhelmingly elected as Judge to Michigan's 19th Circuit.
On July 18, 1997 in Elko County Nevada, Jim married Deborah S. (Miller) Dontz of Manistee.
Judge Batzer took great pride in serving the people of Manistee and Benzie counties. He was widely regarded as a brilliant legal mind. Throughout his career he was a well-respected and prominent figure in the law community. From 1989-1995 Judge Batzer served as a member of the State Bar Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions, serving as Chair from 1993-1995. The Detroit Free Press named him as one of the least reversed trial court judges in criminal cases in Michigan. Judge Batzer was also profiled in the college textbook, Criminal Justice in America. He was deeply dedicated to the law and ensuring it was fairly dispensed. Judge Batzer believed in giving those who made youthful mistakes second chances. He spent many hours, evenings and weekends, reading and researching to prepare for the cases coming before him. After 30 years serving on Michigan's 19th Circuit Court, Judge Batzer retired as Chief Judge December 31, 2014.
Judge Batzer was a longtime member of the Manistee Elks Lodge and many other area fraternal and community organizations. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of local history and families, and was generous with his time and knowledge. If asked a brief question, he would share the entire history of whatever you asked about. He was very particular about many things.
The success of young people was important to Judge Batzer, and he assisted many in launching their careers. He mentored numerous young people and often wrote letters of recommendation. Judge Batzer was very generous, quietly giving directly to people in need, sometimes anonymously, as well as many charities ranging from local human services to educational institutions and conservancy causes.
Jim loved spending time with his family. He enjoyed fly fishing for trout locally and traveled out west with his wife Deborah to fish. He had extensive knowledge of fish species, local waterways and streams. Jim also had a passion for downhill skiing. He learned to ski when he was young and was able to enjoy it for much of his life. Jim taught all three of his daughters to ski when they were small and encouraged them to teach his grandson as well, continuing the family tradition. Jim was also an avid reader all of his life and was able to discuss books and articles he'd read, even from many years before. You could find him watching college football games, especially his alma maters U of M and MSU. Jim enjoyed catching up with old friends and with family. Jim was a special person who worked hard all of his life, tried to help people wherever he could and was much beloved by his family and friends.
Jim is survived by his wife, Deborah Batzer, his daughters, Margaret Batzer, Martha Batzer-O'Herron, Christine Batzer, his brother, Dr. Theodore Batzer (Dorothy), stepson Adam Dontz, son-in-law Patrick O'Herron, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and the apple of his eye, his grandson Dallas James O'Herron.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William R. and Rose E. Batzer, brother Thomas W. Batzer, infant brother William Batzer, and many extended family members.
Services will be held at Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee, on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 11 AM with a luncheon to follow. Visitation will take place on Friday, September 12, 2025 from 4-6 PM, with the Manistee Elks performing a memorial ceremony at 5:30 PM.
Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to The Honorable James M. Batzer Memorial Fund at Wayne State University Law School, or the Manistee County Historical Museum.
.Please share a memory at www.oakgrovefh.com. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee.