Magistrate Court

Judge Baxter C. Howell was appointed as a Dougherty County Magistrate on November 1, 1991 and has been the Chief Magistrate for Dougherty County since January l, 1997.

Howell is a double dog graduate of the University of Georgia and the University of Georgia Law School. He obtained his Master’s in Business Administration from Valdosta State University.

While in service, he graduated from the Armor Basic Course, the Advanced Infantry Course, the Army Command and General Staff Course, and the Air Force War College. During the Vietnam War, he was stationed with the 6th Armored Cavalry Squadron at Fort Meade, Maryland. He also served with HHC, 2/121 Inf (M), GAARNG located in Albany, GA, as well as HHC, 48th Inf Bde (M) in Macon, Ga. His last duty station was in Atlanta with the Headquarters for the Georgia Army National Guard.

While serving as a Magistrate for Dougherty County, Georgia, Howell was appointed to the Executive Committee for the Georgia Council of Magistrate Court Judges. He was also named Magistrate of the Year for the State of Georgia and has taught at Continuing Judicial Seminars for Georgia Magistrate Judges.

Judge Karin (“Kari”) A. Middleton was sworn in as a Magistrate Judge for Dougherty County on January 4, 2025. Middleton graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science. She then attended Georgia State University College of Law, graduating in 1995.

After beginning her law practice in Atlanta with the boutique firm of Bird, Ballard and Still, Middleton moved to Albany with her husband, a native of Albany, and their son in 2003. In Albany, Middleton opened a local office for Baudino Law Group. With experience in both State and Federal Courts, including appellate courts, Middleton led the Baudino Litigation Team during her tenure with the firm.

Middleton presently serves on Boards in Albany including the Phoebe Foundation Board (Chairperson 2020-Present) and Easter Seals of Southern Georgia (President 2015-2016). She is also an active member of the Charity League of Albany. She has formerly served on the Lily Pad Sane Board and Doublegate Country Club Board. Middleton is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Georgia and was recognized as Southwest Georgia’s 40 Under 40 in 2009 by the Albany Herald.

Middleton attends St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where she has served on the Vesty, Rector Search Committee and Finance Committee. She presently chairs the Personnel Committee for St. Paul’s. She and her husband, Faison, have two sons, Frank and Boles.

Judge Michael S. Meyer von Bremen was sworn in as a Dougherty County Magistrate on June 3, 2019. A native of Albany, Meyer von Bremen is an Eagle Scout. He is a 1979 graduate of Mercer University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in German and a 1983 graduate of Mercer Law School. While at Mercer, he was a member of Delta Sigma Rho Tau Kappa Alpha Honorary Forensics Society and Cardinal Key National Honor Society.

Meyer von Bremen returned to Albany in 1983, joining the firm of Black, Black and Cannon; then was a founding partner of Cannon and Meyer von Bremen and later in 2002, he joined the firm of Hall, Booth, Smith and Slover, serving as managing partner of its Albany office. In 1999, Meyer von Bremen was elected to the first of five terms as State Senator. While in this capacity, he served as Chair of the Ethics Committee, Chair of the Special Judiciary Committee and one term as Minority Leader. He also did committee work with the National Council of State Legislators. He has been active in his community, serving as President of the Dougherty Circuit Bar Association, the Albany Sertoma Club, Albany Helpline and of the Mercer University College of Liberal Arts National Alumni Association. Meyer von Bremen has served on the Boards of the American Cancer Society, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Independent College Association and United Way.

He is a 2012 recipient of the Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service; the 2008 King Celebration Dream Award and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America from 2010 to 2020. He attends Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, where he has chaired its Board of Trustees and sings in the choir. He and his wife, Peggy, have two adult daughters.