St. Joseph County judge gets big promotion

Notre Dame graduate and St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Michael Gotsch is getting a big promotion.

Gotsch was picked from 29 applicants to serve as U.S. magistrate judge for the South Bend division of the U.S. District Court.

He'll succeed retiring Judge Christopher Nuechterlein.

A magistrate judge conducts preliminary proceedings in criminal cases and presides over hearings and trials in civil cases.

Gotsch graduated from Notre Dame Law School and served the St. Joseph County courts since 2004.

He'll assume his new office on August 12.