Thaddeus Hackworth

President

Most attorneys spend their careers practicing law. Thaddeus achieved total mastery years ago and no longer needs the practice. He launched his legal reign in New York before returning to Michigan victorious in 2020.

Recently, while on safari in central Africa, he secured the release of a kidnapped mime from a syndicate of rogue mountain gorillas. The apes demanded an absurd volume of bananas. Thaddeus leaned on his municipal dispute resolution experience to settle the standoff for three papayas and a firm handshake. The mime remains speechless.

He lives in the best-run city in the world with his wife Emily, kids Clementine and Foster, and dog Scruffy. He sometimes drives a right-hand-drive Japanese mini truck. Try not to engage. Do not give him the attention he desperately craves.

Bob Schlacks

Vice President

Bob Schlacks was born in Southwest Michigan. He lived and learned in Illinois but returned every summer to stay with family in Van Buren County. Bob graduated from The John Marshall Law School (now University of Illinois Chicago School of Law) and practiced injury law in Chicago for 8 years. Bob and his wife later returned to St. Joseph, where he spent three years practicing criminal defense with the Berrien County Public Defender’s Office, building significant courtroom experience. His focus returned to civil litigation joining Conybeare Accident & Injury Lawyers. Bob and his wife are raising their four children in Southwest Michigan and are active in the community, often spending time at the Curious Kids’ Museum, local soccer fields, and the beaches along Lake Michigan. 

Deborah Bennett Berecz

Immediate Past President

Deb obtained her law degree from Notre Dame Law School in 1993. She practices family law, concentrating on collaborative law and mediation. Deb is married to a clinical psychologist, and they are parents of three adult sons, 13 grandchildren (not a typo!). She enjoys international travel, studying Spanish, reading and pickleball. She would like to include knitting as a skill but currently she must be supervised. Deb has served the BCBA on the Facebook Action Team and on the executive committee as Secretary, Vice-President and currently serves as President. 

Amy Byrd

Treasurer

Amy Byrd was elected Berrien County Prosecuting Attorney in 2024 after serving as an assistant prosecuting attorney for sixteen years. Amy represents the Prosecutor’s Office on the Drug Treatment Court and serves on the Opioid Taskforce, working with community partners to address substance abuse and addiction.  In 2024 she was named Team Member of the Year by the Children’s Advocacy Center for her dedication to seeking justice for child survivors of sexual abuse.  Her commitment to community safety also extends to training law enforcement and fellow prosecuting attorneys on best practices and updates to the law, as well as speaking with middle and high-school students about the inherent legal dangers of digital media in its various forms.  In addition to serving on the Berrien County Bar Association board, Amyis also board member for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, and a member of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary.  Amy is a native of Berrien County who lives on her family’s farm with her two children.

Michael Murphy

Secretary

Mike Murphy hails from Southern Illinois where he grew up along the Mississippi River. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi, better known as Ole Miss, and his law degree from St. Louis University School of Law. Following law school, he worked for the criminal defense firm of Frank, Juengel & Radefeld in St. Louis, Missouri where he gained trial and appellate experience in the state and federal courts of Missouri and Illinois. After six years of practice, Mike shifted gears and took a job as a law clerk for the Honorable Judy Cates in the Illinois 5th District Appellate Court. Three years later, Mike and his family, after being sweet-talked by then Prosecutor Steve Pierangeli, moved to Berrien County. He then joined the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office and has never looked back. When not practicing law, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, hunting, fishing, hiking, reading high fantasy novels, and watching West Ham United.