Holmes County Prosecutors Hold Forum to Clarify Courtroom Rights
Prosecutor Matt Muzik and Assistant Mike Bickis held a community forum at Millersburg Christian Church on Nov. 1 to explain criminal-process basics and victim rights to local residents. The event addressed rising felony caseloads and common misunderstandings about bail, Marsy’s Law, and victim-impact statements, aiming to improve civic knowledge in a county where many have never been inside a courthouse.
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On Friday evening, Nov. 1, Holmes County residents pressed into the Millersburg Christian Church fellowship hall for a community forum led by Prosecutor Matt Muzik and Assistant Prosecutor Mike Bickis. The event, which ran from 6:30 to 8 p.m., opened with a 45-minute presentation by the office followed by 45 minutes of public questions and answers; 63 residents signed in and the session was recorded on the Prosecutor’s Office iPhone.
The forum was organized against a backdrop of an 18 percent rise in the county’s felony caseload in 2024, driven largely by drug and theft offenses. Organizers said the presentation sought to demystify courtroom procedures for communities — including both Amish and English residents — many of whom have never stepped inside the courthouse and often misunderstand mechanisms such as bail, Marsy’s Law and victim-impact statements. Presenters offered plain-language explanations to common questions; one example given at the forum was, "No, cash bail is not profit for the county."
Prosecutor Muzik, elected in 2020, and Assistant Bickis, a former public defender, cooperated in the presentation to highlight different perspectives within the criminal justice system. The Millersburg Christian Church donated the hall for the event, and the Holmes County Victim Assistance Program provided printed materials. Organizers distributed about 60 wallet cards listing victim-rights hotlines, and West Holmes High government classes were invited; 11 seniors attended for extra credit.
Local reporting and official social media documented the gathering. The Bargain Hunter ran a 240-word recap in its Nov. 2 print edition and posted an online summary early that morning. The Prosecutor’s Office posted four photos to its official Facebook page at 9:17 p.m. on Nov. 1 with the caption, "Great questions tonight!" A sign-in photo posted by the office is timestamped 6:28 p.m.; the event flyer had been publicized on the county website and the office’s Facebook page beginning Oct. 21, and the Bargain Hunter ran a calendar ad on Oct. 28.
A search of the Prism Holmes County archive returned no matches for terms such as "prosecutor forum," "Muzik," or "criminal rights," indicating this reporting fills a gap in that local database. For record clarity, the office recorded the session on an iPhone; reporters have requested the 22-minute recording for a more detailed transcript and to confirm final attendance figures once the sign-in sheet is made public.
The forum represents a growing trend of local legal offices investing in public education to build trust and reduce confusion about legal rights and procedures. For Holmes County residents, the immediate impacts are practical: clearer expectations when interacting with the justice system, accessible victim-support contacts, and outreach to younger citizens through high school participation. County officials and community leaders say follow-up is needed to determine whether additional forums will be scheduled in Berlin or Walnut Creek in 2026.
