Former Ottawa County court leader named inaugural ‘West Michigan peace builder’

OTTAWA COUNTY — Kevin Bowling, a 44-year veteran of the Michigan judiciary, has been named the inaugural West Michigan Peace Builder.

Bowling, who retired in 2022 as an Ottawa County court executive and attorney referee, said the honor is "very humbling" because it is rare for court officials to be "recognized by their own peers."

The award, presented by Mediation Services, recognizes Bowling’s extensive tenure and 19 years of service on the organization’s board of directors. 

He will be formally honored during an April 9 dinner at the Bay Pointe Inn at Gun Lake.

“It was a real surprise when I got the call," Bowling said. "It sometimes feels like I'm a bit of a 'has-been,' so it was quite an honor to be selected and so nice to gather with colleagues again.”

A philosophy of problem-solving

Throughout a career that included 20 years with the Michigan Supreme Court, Bowling emphasized resolution over litigation. He noted that his approach was rooted in the belief that most people prefer harmony to hostility.

“One of the things I learned in the process is that most people would rather solve problems than fight over them,” Bowling explained. “I carried that into my role as court administrator. I wanted to give people a voice. I learned that if you can get people together to talk to each other, it can reestablish a relationship.”

Bowling’s work often involved high-stakes "problem-solving" courts, such as Recovery Court and Juvenile Court.

“I was always trying to be focused on finding ways to solve problems before they erupted,” he said. “I worked out disputes of various kinds. It was not always mountain-top experiences, but when I could walk away knowing I had a hand in helping anyone, it was a great feeling.”

Global strategy, local impact

Bowling’s influence reached far beyond West Michigan. As a charter member of the National Association for Court Management and the current chief administrative officer of the International Association for Court Administration, he has consulted on judicial improvements in Nigeria and studied the impact of artificial intelligence on courts in Singapore.

Despite his international reach, Bowling remains focused on the local mission of conflict resolution. He noted that while Mediation Services has served the community for over 20 years, many residents remain unaware of the resources available to them.

“It's been incredible to work in the community,” Bowling said. “But a lot of people still don't know what we do. ... It's really great services with great people doing the work.”

For Bowling, the true measure of a career in justice is found in the small, fleeting moments of human connection. He often points to a "sincere thank you" from a drug court graduate or a middle school student as his primary motivation.

“The mountain top experiences do happen,” Bowling said, “but it is these small memorable moments that motivate me to go to court and work hard every day".

— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.