Amy Byrd, Berrien County Prosecutor

Tom Nelson introduced our speaker for the day, Amy Byrd, the new Berrien County Prosecutor. Amy took over the term from Joseph Pierangeli last year and won a 4-year term in 2025. 

Amy grew up on a vegetable farm (L.H. Piggott and Girls Family Farm) in Benton Township. She graduated from Lake Michigan Catholic and attended the University of Notre Dame. She obtained her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She started her career at the Berrien County Prosecutors’ Office and was an assistant Prosecutor when she was picked to finish Joseph Pierangeli’s term.

Amy is married and has two children, aged 8 and 11. She jokingly said she returned to this area so she would have readily available babysitters. Her father, George McManus, is the Drain Commissioner. 

Amy reviewed the workings of the Prosecutor’s Office: 

• 20 attorneys/20 support staff. 18 attys. In St. Joe and 2 in Niles. 
• Divisions: Family, Criminal, and Appellate. 
• One canine advocate: Zoey. 
• Duties: Over 250 Statutory Duties. 
• Prosecutor’s Priorities: Gun violence, Drug trafficking, Community Engagement, Prosecutor and Law Enforcement training, Prosecutor retention.