Office: Stark County – Fifth District Court of Appeals
Age: 66
Residence: Canton, OH
Email: judgejww@gmail.com
Website: N/A
Occupation: Presiding Judge, Fifth District Court of Appeals
Education: Juris Doctorate Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit
College of Law, undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Education from
Bowling Green State University.
Work Experience: See answers to questions 1 and 2.
Family: Married 35 years with two adult children
Affiliations: Professional Associations: I served as an originating member of The Supreme Court Computer and Technology Advisory
Committee. I am a member and former Chief Justice of the Ohio Courts of Appeals Judges Association. I served four years on their Executive
Committee. I am a member of the Stark County Bar Association and have served on many committees. I am a member of the Ohio Judicial
Conference and have served on their Appellate Rules Committee. I am a member of and presenter for the Ohio Judicial College. I presented on
topics concerning Technologies and the Courts, Professionalism, Appellate Rules and Procedures & Drafting Briefs and Oral Arguments.
I am a member of The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct. The Board has the responsibility to review and recommend resolutions of ethical
complaints filed with the Board to the Ohio Supreme Court. Civic Activities: I have served as Chairman of the YMCA Board of Trustees
and been on its Board for over 25 years. I have also served as Chairman and board member of the Stark County Crisis Intervention Center
(1985-1987) and YMCA Camp Tippecanoe Board of Directors. Other civic association which I served as a board member: include:
Canton Alzheimer Association (1987-1989), Handicapped Associates of Stark County (1980-1982), Stark County Historical Society McKinley Museum
Endorsements: N/A
Bar Association Ratings: Stark County Bar Association’s highest rating
“Highly Recommended.”
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years):
1995-present Judge, Fifth District Court of Appeals 1993-1995 Judge,
Stark County Common Pleas Court 1990-1993 Judge, Canton
Municipal Court Sat with the Supreme Court of Ohio on several
occasions, by assignment of the Chief Justice.
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a
judge?
Prior to my election as Judge, I had a broad scope of experience. I was
the first Intern from Ohio Northern University to serve with the Public
Defender’s office in Sidney, Ohio, where I had the opportunity to
appear in court on behalf of indigent criminal defendants. After
graduation, I experienced the other side of the criminal law practice
serving as an intern with the Canton Law Department, where I
represented the State in criminal matters. I began my private practice
with a wide range of clients. I represented a savings & loan, small
businesses which I represented (formation, transactions, and litigation.)
I also represented individuals and families. I did their real estate title
work, estate planning, adoptions, divorces, and civil litigation. I
represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil liability cases.
This wide range of experience helped prepare me for the many and
varied issues that come before the courts. Although this section refers
to non-judicial experience, I believe it is relevant to mention my
experience at the trial court level. Serving as a municipal court and
common pleas court judge provided me with valuable knowledge and
experience of those courts that I now review as an appellate court
judge.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running for this seat because it has been an honor, privilege and
professionally rewarding experience for the past 23 years to serve on
the Fifth District Court of Appeals. In the past 23 years, I have written
over 2,500 opinions, and I have reviewed over 7,500 appellate cases.
Some of those cases related to significant state-wide issues, school
funding, criminal sentencing changes, insurance liability issues, zoning,
annexation, oil and gas laws, and many more. Some pertained to
individuals, divorce, traffic violations, foreclosures, evictions, auto
accidents, felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. Each of those
matters were of the utmost importance to the parties involved. I
believe I have treated each of those cases with the same degree of
consideration.
I have never run for judge to change the laws or for a political agenda. I
have always respected the principles of the separation of powers on
which this country was founded. I believe it is a judge’s duty to apply
and enforce the law as written by our legislature and to protect the
constitutional rights of our citizens. This is my last term on the court of
appeals due to age restrictions and I would like to ×nish my judicial
career doing what I have enjoyed so much the last 23 years.