Judge Gary J. Bruce is a lifelong resident of Berrien County. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1971, received his Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University in 1975, and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1980.
Judge Bruce practiced law for 18 years specializing in the area of litigation, including serving as a Berrien County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney from 1983 to 1987.
Service
Judge Bruce served as past chairman of the Parish Council at St. Joseph Catholic Church, is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Michigan Volunteer Center and has served as Secretary and Executive Committee member of the Berrien County Bar Association. He is a member of the St. Joseph - Benton Harbor Rotary Club.
Elected in 1998 as a Fifth District Judge for Berrien County, he serves in the Criminal Division of the Berrien County Trial Court. He is a member of the Michigan Bar Association and the Michigan District Judges Association and has served on the Berrien County Police Services Council and the Juvenile Justice Task Force. He was formerly the Chief Judge of the Berrien County Trial Court.