Office: Hamilton County – Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Age: 48
Residence: Madeira, OH
Email: lghiz@cinci.rr.com
Website: www.leslieghiz.com
Occupation: Judge, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Education: J.D. Capital University
Work Experience: Judge, Hamilton Count Court of Common Pleas
(2013-present); Cincinnati City Council (2005-2011); Hamilton County
Prosecutor’s Office (2012-2013); Ghiz Law, LLC (2006-2013)
Family: Divorced, 2 children
Affiliations: Greek Orthodox
Endorsements: Hamilton County Republican Party
Bar Association Ratings: N/A
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years):
Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Hamilton County (5 years)
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a
judge?
Prior to taking the bench in 2013, I practiced labor and employment
law for 18 years. I have extensive civil litigation experience in this area,
particularly in employment discrimination. During this time, I was the
chief labor negotiator for the City of Cincinnati, gaining a wealth of
knowledge in the area of labor negotiations. I was also elected to
Cincinnati City Council and served for six years, where I became well
versed in legislative practices. These areas of knowledge help in my day
to day work in the Court of Common Pleas, particularly with my civil
docket. The most important quality a judge can bring to the bench is
practical experience. The longer a person practices, the more familiar
he/she gets with a host of different legal issues, and the more easily
that person can adapt to moving parts. Each case that comes before a
court is different, and practical knowledge is a must when making
judicial decisions. My 18 years of legal practice serves me well on the
bench.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running for re-election because I have the best job in the world.
Every day is a new challenge: different cases, different people, different
styles. I have learned to acclimate to new situations on a daily basis.
Additionally, there are a number of different criminal and civil cases I
very much want to see through. I love being able to learn new areas of
law each day, and to still “study” even when I’m not in school. I take
pride in being able to help my community by keeping criminals off the
streets, but also giving defendants fair and impartial trials. There is no
greater feeling than when a jury comes back with a resolution. I have
full faith in the jury system, and feel blessed I get to see it in action on a
day to day basis