(IRON MOUNTAIN, MI)–Circuit Court Judge Richard Celello has announced his retirement December 31st. The vacancy in the 41st Circuit will be filled through an appointment by Gov. Rick Snyder. The appointee then will have to run in the general election in November 2018. The winner of that election will fill the remainder of Celello’s unexpired term, in 2020. The 41st circuit includes Dickinson, Menominee and Iron counties. Celello himself was appointed to the circuit court bench by Republican Gov. John Engler in 2000. He was elected to three six-year terms. Celello graduated from Michigan State University and then from Marquette University Law School. He was appointed Iron Mountain city attorney that same year and served for approximately two years, then was elected Prosecuting Attorney and was the first full time prosecutor of Dickinson County serving also as Friend of the Court. He was appointed district court judge in 1978. In 1978, he was appointed to the district court bench and elected to serve a full six-year term, resigning in the early 1980’s when the law firm of Mouw & Celello was established. Later again appointed to the Circuit Court Bench by both Democrat and Republican governors.