Office: Marion County Common Pleas Court Judge, January 1 term
Age: 45
Residence: Caledonia, OH
Email: EdwardsForJudge@gmail.com
Website: www.EdwardsForJudge.com, www.Facebook.com/EdwardsForJudge
Occupation: Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Franklin County Ohio And Counsel for Bender Communications, Inc.
Education: J.D., The Ohio State University College of Law, 2001. B.A., Capital University, 1995.
Work Experience: Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Franklin County Ohio since 2001 And Counsel for Bender Communications Inc. since 2001
Family: Married for 25 years to Kelesta Bender Edwards. Two adult children, Allison, a college student, and Jonathan, a teacher at River Valley.
Affiliations: I am an Independent candidate without political affiliation because judges should be free from political influence, Member of St. John (Windfall) Lutheran Church
Endorsements: Only local candidate endorsed by both Marion’s first responder unions: Marion County Fraternal Order of Police, Steve Young Memorial Lodge 24 and Marion International Association of Fire Fighters Local 379
Bar Association Ratings: N/A
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years):
If elected, this will be my first experience as a judge; however, my experience in the courtroom is extensive, handling thousands of felony cases over my 17 year career including numerous jury and bench trials. Examples of my work can be seen at www.facebook.com/EdwardsForJudge
2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
The Ohio Supreme Court sets the qualifications for judge being a licensed attorney with at least six years of experience practicing law in Ohio, being a resident and a registered voter in the territory or district of the court, and being younger than 70 prior to beginning a term in office . I more than meet these requirements with 17 years of legal practice, living in Marion county and being 45 years of age. My 17 years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Columbus handling some of their largest cases gives me the big city experience to bring back to my hometown of Marion, which is now facing a criminal element from places like Detroit and Chicago. I have 18 killers serving life sentences and have handled 2 death penalty cases, including the Aggravated Murder by Arson of Judy Malinowski. I have never been reversed on appeal. In addition to some civil experience as an assistant prosecutor, which include using a civil action to preserve Judy’s testimony for a trial, my role as counsel for Bender Communications has provided me with additional experience in a variety of civil matters and given me insight into the Marion business community’s concerns and needs.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running for this seat because Marion deserves a choice and a change. Being raised in Marion, graduating from Harding High School, raising my children here and watching them both graduate from River Valley High School, my ties to Marion run deep. I love this community, but I see it being ravaged by crime, increased burglary rates and drugs. What is being done might sound good on paper, but Marion residents know that it is not working. Our first responders encouraged me to run, and I am the only local candidate endorsed by both the Marion County Fraternal Order Of Police, Steve Young Memorial Lodge 24 and Marion International Association of Fire Fighters Local 379. When those on the front line are asking for a change in the court, voters should listen because both sides deserve to feel that their cases are being fairly and impartially decided. Ohio’s laws apply the same in Marion’s court as they do in any other court in our state. I believe in personal accountability, consequences for criminal conduct, equal application of the law, protecting our community, protecting the constitutional rights of victims as well as the accused, and the judge’s duty to be free from political influence and to apply the law fairly and impartially. Ohio’s laws still support these concepts. Vote Edwards for Judge for the change Marion’s court needs.