George J. Mertz was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to the Circuit Court bench in January 2013.
Judge Mertz received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 1996 and his Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University in 2001. While in law school he served as a clerk in the Executive Division of the Michigan Attorney General's Office
Judge Mertz began his legal career as a judicial law clerk for the 46th Circuit Court in 2001 and worked primarily for Circuit Court Judges Alton Davis and Dennis Murphy. In 2002 he accepted a position as an Associate Attorney at the Gaylord office of Plunkett & Cooney, P.C. and moved from Grayling to Gaylord with his wife Amy. While at Plunkett & Cooney he practiced insurance defense litigation and also handled general civil matters.
In 2004 he was hired as Assistant General Counsel for the Police Officers Association of Michigan. Based out of his office in Gaylord, his practice included public sector labor law, criminal law, civil litigation, and appellate matters throughout central and northern Michigan. Judge Mertz also held a position as an adjunct professor at the Gaylord campus of North Central Michigan College, teaching Business Law.
Judge Mertz resides in Gaylord with his wife Amy and their two children. He and his family are involved in the community and enjoy spending time together participating in the many outdoor activities that northern Michigan provides year round. His interests include fishing, hunting, golf, skiing, hockey, curling, competing in triathlons and marathons, aviation, woodworking, and music.