Office: Ohio Supreme Court
Age: 48
Residence: Cincinnati, OH
Email: rpdewine@gmail.com
Website: http://www.patdewine.com/; https://www.facebook.com/JudgePatDeWine/?fref=ts; https://twitter.com/patdewine
Occupation: Judge serving on the First District Court of Appeals
Education: J.D. The University of Michigan Law School
Work Experience: I am currently a judge on Ohio’s First District Court of Appeals. At the request of the Chief Justice, I have sat by designation on the Ohio Supreme Court. I previously served as a trial court judge on the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, where I heard both criminal and civil matters. Prior to becoming a judge, I served my community as Hamilton County Commissioner and also as a Cincinnati City Council Member. I was a practicing attorney for 13 years at Keating, Muething & Klekamp, a leading private law firm in Cincinnati, where I handled a diverse range of litigation matters, including appellate and constitutional matters. I am also an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati in both the College of Law and the College of Arts and Sciences, teaching courses in Appellate Practices & Procedure to law students as well as courses on Ohio Government & Politics and American Courts to undergraduates.
Family: Married with 5 kids
Affiliations: N/A
Endorsements: N/A
Bar Association Ratings: N/A
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
1994 – Graduated University of Michigan Law School (top 10% of class). 1995 – 1996 – Clerk, the Honorable David A. Nelson, United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. 1996 – 2009 – Of counsel, Keating, Muething & Klekamp. 2009 – 2012 – Judge, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. 2013 – Present – Judge, Ohio First District Court of Appeals.
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have always had a deep respect for the rule of law and the impact a sound legal system can play in citizens’ daily lives. My federal clerkship immediately after law school gave me a deeper appreciation for the federalist structure of our country; my work at a leading private law firm allowed me to gain an appreciation for the many legal issues businesses and individuals regularly face; and my tenure as a city council member and county commissioner provided me the opportunity to work in an adjacent branch of government and gain firsthand knowledge about how the government and legal system work best together to improve the lives of our citizens. Combined with my judicial roles, these experiences make me very well suited for a seat on Ohio’s high court.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I have a strong commitment to public service and great respect for the significant role our legal system plays in the daily lives of Ohioans. A legal system that is restrained, that respects the other branches of government, and that ensures a fair interpretation and application of the law allows for a more stable and prosperous economy, the greatest protection of Ohio families, and makes Ohio a better place to live and work. This philosophy has guided my judicial career, and I aspire to be on the Ohio Supreme Court because I believe I can lend my voice and this philosophy to strengthen Ohio’s legal environment and improve the lives of our citizens.