DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Margaret Van Houten of the Dearborn Heights City Council was named to the 3rd Wayne County Circuit Court bench in Detroit on Monday by Gov. Rick Snyder. 

Van Houten fills the vacancy of Mary Beth Kelly, who was appointed to the state Supreme Court. Van Houten’s term ends January 1, 2013, but she will have to run for the position in the 2012 election.