Author: ctaylor1

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Judge on the Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Division (2013-2018)

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
Admitted to the Ohio Bar in 2003 and practiced Family, Juvenile & Criminal Law. No person has a consultation with an attorney unless there is an issue in their personal or business life. As an attorney, my desire is to ease the heartbreak, stress and/or pain. If it is a Divorce or Custody matter, the goal is to settle the issues for the best interest of the children. I am kind, thoughtful and considerate and ask for your VOTE.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
My background is a great fit for the 8th District Court of Appeals. There are 12 judges on the 8th District Court of Appeal and the task is to review lower court decisions for procedural errors. It is an important function of our judicial system to ensure that the Constitutional Rights of our citizens are protected. Every lower court decision is entitled to an Appellate Review.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Hamilton County Probate Court Judge (2015-current) preside over adoptions, mental health court, guardianships, estates, trusts, name changes, civil cases, marriage licenses, and 80+ functions unique to probate court

Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge (2005-2015) presided over civil cases and felony criminal cases Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge (1999-2005) presided over misdemeanors and civil cases

As a judge I have presided over 70,000 + cases.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have worked in the courts every day of my legal career. I started in 1983 as a law clerk in the Court of Common Pleas while paying my way through law school. During law school I interned with the public defender’s office. In 1987, I became an Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor and I also opened my own law office representing clients in probate court, personal injury case, real estate, and general civil matters. I practiced in every court in Hamilton County until I became a judge in 1999.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running for reelection to the probate court because I love this job and I love serving the public. The probate court is unique in that many of our cases involve helping people through their most difficult times and helping those most vulnerable in our society. For this reason, I have found my true passion in probate court and want to continue implementing positive changes to adoptions, guardianships, and mental health cases.

I also plan to continue to work toward having the most open and accessible court in Ohio. While in office, I initiated our e-filing system, allowing attorneys and members of the public to file cases online and pre-apply for marriage licenses. I have worked to modernize the court using technology to increase efficiency and access to justice. In my next term, I hope to achieve the goal of providing online access to every public case document in our court.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Magistrate, Licking County Domestic Relations Court, 2011-Present. Years of experience presiding over cases involving abused, neglected, or dependent children; domestic violence cases where I issue orders to protect victims and children; and cases where parents for one reason or another are unable to parent their children and I must determine where the children will be placed. During my time on the bench, I have developed strategies to improve docket management, gained experience in hiring and personnel management, and created forms to allow easier access to the court for people who do not have legal representation.

I have seen the rise in drug addiction in our county and have crafted countless orders to promote the recovery of addicted parents without compromising the safety of their children. I have developed extensive relationships with other leaders in our community who are working to protect children and victims of domestic violence, and have earned a reputation as being firm, compassionate, and fair.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I am very proud of my years on the bench helping families. But being a judge is about more than what you do in the courtroom. I have dedicated my professional career to serving our community. Through my participation in a multitude of charitable and professional organizations, I have proven myself to be a leader that understands the challenges we now face.

I am an NRA member and staunch defender of the Second Amendment. I am a Christian who strongly supports the sanctity of life. I am also a mother of two children, and continuously strive to ensure our community is a place where children are safe to thrive and grow. I am also the sister of a man with significant special needs. My brother is on the spectrum, and I have watched him struggle throughout his life to be a productive member of our community. I have seen his kind and trusting nature be taken advantage of by people who have used him financially and emotionally. I am fiercely protective of my children, my brother, and my family.

Through my professional experience in the courtroom and my personal experience as a mother and a family member of someone with special needs, I understand the unique challenges that impact families. Families struggling with drug addiction, with aging parents, and with family members who have mental or physical challenges that prevent them from caring for themselves need a judge who is passionate, hard working, and dedicated. They need a judge who will do what is necessary to protect our children and the other defenseless members of our community. I am invested in our county and the people within it, and have the right combination of professional and personal experience to serve as your next Juvenile Probate Judge.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
As a conservative Republican who believes in limited government and a restrained judiciary that does not legislate, I believe it is paramount that we have a strong conservative leader running this very important court.

Juvenile Probate Court serves the most vulnerable populations in our community. During my time at Domestic Relations Court, I have seen the rise of cases where neither parent is suitable to have custody of their children. I have seen the rise in cases where grandparents and other family members step up to gain custody of a child who cannot remain with their parents. I have seen how the cycle of abuse and addiction has impacted our families and our youth.

As your next Juvenile Probate Judge, I will have the ability to improve access to that court and its resources for people who know a child is in danger but are unsure of how to seek help from the court. I will have the ability to create a specialized docket to better address the needs of high-risk/high needs youth offenders in our county. My passion is protecting those who cannot protect themselves, and I have dedicated my professional career towards that end. As the next judge of Juvenile Probate Court, I will have the opportunity to have a greater positive impact on our families, and do more to protect the children within them.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Currently I have not had experience as a judicial officer. Nonetheless, I know that I possess the experience, work-ethic, and temperament that is needed to be Common Pleas Judge.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
My private practice has focused on the very types of cases most often filed in the Common Pleas Court. I currently operate law offices in Dayton and Xenia. I’ve handled close to three hundred cases in the Montgomery County Courts in the past three years. In addition to my private practice, I also serve as Special Prosecutor for the City of Xenia. I have received the Martindale-Hubbell Platinum Client Champion Award along with be named a Rising Star for 2020 by Super Lawyers. I am a hard worker and problem solver. My experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney will be invaluable as Common Pleas Judge.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running because Montgomery County needs judges with experience, that are hardworking, and that have the right temperament to get things done fairly, consistently and efficiently. I pride myself on being able to listen to both sides fairly and to think carefully before speaking and making decisions.

I believe it is important to have experienced, knowledgeable judges to handle the extensive and diverse Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas caseload. I also believe that judges should promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary without regard to a person’s race, gender, or other personal characteristics.

In private practice I have always attempted to treat everyone fairly and with courtesy and respect. If elected, I will ensure this occurs in my courtroom. My wife, Kasey Kordalis, and myself are lifelong residents of this community. This community has given my family so much and I will work hard to make sure that Montgomery County remains a great place to live.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
In 2004, I became a judge on the Hamilton County Municipal Court. For 11 years, I presided over tens of thousands of cases, conducting numerous jury trials. I saw people at their lowest and their worst. It was during this time that I honed the discretion and discernment I relied on to understand the difference between someone who had made a mistake and one who was truly a threat to our community. I also served as the county’s housing court judge, a position in which I successfully balanced the rights of property owners with the concerns of our communities over blight and urban decay. My experience running this docket over the years was one of the clearest examples for me of how the decisions of judges affect not only the people involved in the cases before them, but also the community as a whole.

After more than a decade on the municipal court, I was elected to the Court of Appeals in 2014. Serving on the appellate bench has required me to utilize everything I have learned in both private practice, as a prosecutor, and as a trial court judge. Having served as both a trial attorney and a trial judge, I was able to bring a level of practical knowledge to the bench that was essential to me assuming that role.

I have authored hundreds of opinions for the court in all areas of law. Judicial opinions are not akin to research papers or journal articles–the decisions appellate judges make have real-world consequences for both the parties involved in the cases and the people of Hamilton County. The stakes here can be tremendously high, and I rely on everything I have learned every day to reach decisions that are legally sound, fair to the parties, and just.

While conducting all of my regular duties as a judge on the appeals court, I have also served as the court’s presiding and administrative judge since 2017–managing the court’s operation, presiding over conferences, and overseeing the release of the opinions and entries of the court. In this role, I have seen areas that have needed improvement and taken steps to remedy them. But, more importantly, I have learned that the court is made up of a dedicated staff who work hard on a daily basis to serve the people of Hamilton County, and it is an honor for me to work with them.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I began my legal career as a solo practitioner in Hamilton County, assisting a variety of individuals and small businesses with their legal needs in civil and criminal matters. My favorite part about that portion of my career was using the skill set I had been given to help those who needed it at a time when they are struggling with some of their greatest challenges. While doing this, I learned how the court system impacts real people.

In 2001, I joined the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney’s office. While working there, I prosecuted thousands of criminal defendants, including some of the worst offenders in the county. This experience with litigation, working with victims and understanding their needs, and seeing that only the truly guilty were punished, gave me a keen insight into all aspects of the judicial process and, more importantly, the people it impacts.

I am also a frequent lecturer on various legal topics. I have spoken to numerous organizations, including the Cincinnati Bar Association, the Lawyers Club of Cincinnati, the Hamilton County Police Association, and seminars offered by the First District Court of Appeals and the Hamilton County Municipal Court. Giving back to the legal community that has given me so much is a true pleasure, and I count it a blessing that I am able to do so.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
It has been my honor to serve on the Court of Appeals for the last six years. But I believe that I could not have done as well as I have without the lifetime of experience that has prepared me to serve. And I cannot emphasize enough how crucial my years as a trial court judge have been in preparing me to work at the appellate level. An appellate judge reviews the decisions of trial judges. In order to understand and evaluate their performance, my experience as an actual trial judge has been vital. Without that insight, an appellate judge would be in danger of crafting rules and decisions that are simply unworkable on a practical level. Just as you would not want a surgeon who has only read about surgery, you would not want an appellate judge who has not had real experience to draw from.

My experience as an attorney and trial judge has taught me that each one of the cases that comes before us involves real people with real problems. And while an individual case may not be a high-profile murder trial or a multi-million dollar civil lawsuit, that case is supremely important to the people involved. But, having worked directly with litigants for as long as I have, I have learned that each one of those files represents someone who has come seeking to be heard, to be treated fairly, and to receive a result that is just. And they deserve a judge fully equipped for that task.

It is very important for an appellate judge to understand judicial restraint. Again, that may seem obvious when you are looking at this job from the outside. Sometimes appellate judges face prior decisions with which they may not personally agree, but they are the law. And I follow the law. I will take the time to point out the reasons that I disagree with that rule and suggest ways that it could be changed, but I will not create new laws while sitting on the bench. I have worked hard on each and every case on which I have been involved.

It is my sincere hope that I will get the opportunity to continue to serve as a judge and continue to use my experience for the benefit of the people of Hamilton County.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
0 years as an active Judge.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have been certified as an expert in probate law by the Ohio State Bar Association since 2015, and am the only candidate with such distinction. Since 2005, I have handled hundreds of probate cases in Montgomery County and other probate courts across Ohio. I have also litigated other matters in numerous other trial and appellate courts, all the way through the Ohio Supreme Court and United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

I believe actual practice experience as a probate attorney is vital before taking the bench. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. stated, “The life of the law has not been logic: it has been experience.” I have that real world practice experience.

Besides practicing probate law, I have served as: trustee of special needs trusts, living trusts, and irrevocable trusts; guardian of minor and incompetent estates and persons; executor and administrator over estates; guardian ad litem and as power of attorney for both health care and financial decisions of others. Anyone who has served in any of those functions understands the difficulties and real world impact to families when serving in those roles.

A judge must understand that judicial economy, fairness and access to the court are pivotal, as to protect the most vulnerable people in our community. My degrees from Miami University, including a B.S. in public administration, will provide a foundation to successfully perform any administrative functions of the Court. Moreover, I have run several businesses and an serving as a partner at my law firm. I understand budgets, resources and deadlines.

Finally, my active community service shows that I am willing to serve the public with no expectation of personal gain. I have served as Section Chair of the Dayton Bar Association’s Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Section since 2013. I have actively served the University of Dayton School of Law Alumni Board since 2007, including executive functions. I have provided hours of pro bono services through the Volunteer Lawyer’s Project and other legal initiatives. I have also written and lectured on numerous probate topics to attorneys and the public, while providing CLE credits to lawyers. My volunteer record shows I am consistent and current, and will continue serving the community in that fashion.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I have spent my legal career advocating for families before the Court and outside of the courthouse. I fully understand the difficult decisions families face in the day-to-day oversight of loved ones suffering from age or health-related diseases, mental health and/or drug abuse. I have seen the devastating consequences of non-responsive or apathetic courts when not moving cases forward. I have also witnessed estate and guardianship cases linger, with no excuse for delay, which is financially and emotionally harmful to families. The Court must render speedy and fair decisions. I have also discussed implementing administrative programs to allow better access to the Court.

My record shows I am a diligent worker and care about families. I have fought hard for my clients and justice, and will continue to do so as Probate Court Judge. I am not a political appointee, and I will treat all people that come before me equally and objectively. Probate Court is truly a governmental entity that should serve families from birth through death.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
None

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
The Eighth District Court of Appeals is the last stop for justice in Cuyahoga County. So, it is important that the judges who serve on the court have experience in the courts and in the community to provide the foundation to make tough decisions in a way that is legally sound, fair and just. For my entire career I have been a courtroom lawyer, representing my clients in trial courts and courts of appeals. My experience and expertise with complicated legal issues like those that the Eighth District Court of Appeals addresses mean that I will be able to get the job done from Day 1. My intimate knowledge and understanding of how the courts work and of substantive law will provide me with the foundation necessary to make legally correct decisions.

For example, I argued my first appeal in the 1990s and most recently argued an appeal last year. I have represented clients in the Court of Appeals throughout the years in between. Further, my years of experience writing briefs submitted to courts at different levels coupled with my years of experience drafting articles for publication in legal journals will enable me to write decisions that are clear and that provide guidance to the parties at bar, as well as to the public in general. But, understanding the courts and the law is only part of the equation.

My demonstrated commitment to the community gives me a broad perspective that will help me make decisions that are fair and just. I have served as a volunteer on the board at the Centers for Families and Children for the last 11 years, doing my part to ensure that high quality Head Start, job training and healthcare (both physical and mental) are available to tens of thousands of the most vulnerable members of our community. In addition, for roughly the past 20 years I have volunteered election after election to ensure that everyone who is registered can cast a ballot and have it court. I do that because the health and strength of our democracy depends on people being able to exercise their right to vote. I offer my legal experience and my proven commitment to the community as I seek to serve as a judge on the Court of Appeals.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I seek to serve on the Court of Appeals in Cuyahoga County because I see the the greatest issue facing the court today as the deterioration of respect for the institution. If people do not trust and have confidence in the courts to dispense justice and to apply the law fairly, we risk a breakdown of orderly democratic society.

In recent years, there has been an increase in criticism of judges and questioning of political motivations behind judicial decisions, all of which degrades respect for individual judges and the courts in general. An antidote to this problem is electing judges who are highly qualified, beyond influence and committed to service. I am that candidate.

If elected, I will dedicate myself to writing opinions that address key legal issues efficiently and that offer a window into the analysis that led to a particular outcome, to resolve the matters before the Court and toward the goal of providing guidance to future litigants. Of course, fair and just application of the law would guide every decision. If elected to the Court of Appeals, I will work to continue to be actively involved in the community as well as philanthropic organizations. The purpose behind this community involvement would be to increase public exposure to, and thus confidence in, the courts and judges.

I have always been drawn to public service. I have had a wonderful career as a private practice litigator for the past 27 years. But, the notion of giving back to the law and to the community has always been important to me. Sitting on the Court of Appeals is compelling as it allows me to achieve those goals in a meaningful way.

I have seen how important it is – how it can change lives – when the courts apply the law fairly and evenhandedly. I aspire to be a judge because I believe that my work ethic, dedication to and love of the law, and demonstrated commitment to our community is the right mix of professional and community experience to allow me to apply and interpret the law fairly and justly.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I have nine years of judicial experience as a Magistrate in Richland County Domestic Relations Court. I currently serve as the Chief Magistrate.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
My wide variety of legal experience, and my extensive legal research and writing skills qualify me to serve as a judge. From 2004-2011, I was an Assistant Prosecutor in the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office. I primarily served as the office’s appellate attorney. In that capacity, I handled hundreds of appeals from juvenile delinquency findings and adult felony convictions in the Fifth District Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Ohio.

In 2006, I successfully appealed and argued a case before the Supreme Court of Ohio, winning a reversal of the lower court’s ruling. I also handled post-conviction relief proceedings for two death penalty cases. In one of those cases, the Defendant wished to waive his right to further appeals and have his death sentence carried out. I represented the State in a hearing before the trial court which determined that he was competent to do so. I also represented the State in a clemency hearing before the Ohio Parole Board for that same case. In addition to my duties as the appellate attorney. I represented the State in a number of juvenile delinquency cases.

I also worked with local law enforcement agencies to screen adult felony cases during the intake process, presented cases to the grand jury, and represented the State in preliminary hearings.

Finally, I assisted the civil division in preparing and filing pleadings in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. After I left the Prosecutor’s Office to become a Magistrate in Domestic Relations Court, my legal research and writing experience allowed my to easily transition to a new area of law.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I have devoted my career to serving the citizens of Richland County and ensuring that everyone has access to fair and equal justice. I am running for Probate Court Judge to continue that work.

As Chief Magistrate, I have been involved in planning for the implementation of electronic filing in the Domestic Relations Court, which will take place in 2020. If I am elected as Probate Court Judge, I plan to implement electronic filing in the Probate Court to modernize and streamline court operations, and improve access to the court by allowing individuals to file necessary paperwork from their home computer. Access to the courts is vital for a fair judicial system, and I will make that a priority as Probate Court Judge.

I also believe that the judicial system should be representative of the population it serves. According to the last census, women make up 49.2% of Richland County’s population; however, only one out of the five Richland County Common Pleas judgeships is held by a woman. I believe that more female representation in the judiciary is vitally important, particularly in family courts like Domestic Relations and Probate Court. Women often serve as caregivers, whether it is caring for children, or aging parents. That life experience provides a perspective which is important in ruling on cases involving sensitive family issues.

In my personal life, I watched with my mother and her siblings care for my grandmother at home when she was dying of brain cancer. As an only child, I have also recently cared for my mother and father through several serious health issues. These experiences have made me aware of the stresses and challenges caregivers in guardianship cases may face.

My professional experience has also prepared me for ruling on issues that may come before the Probate Court. As a Magistrate in Domestic Relations Court, I have spent nine years presiding over cases involving the most intimate and sensitive family matters, such as ruling on petitions for domestic violence civil protection orders, dividing assets in divorces, and deciding issues relating to custody and parenting time of children. In every case, I strive to be compassionate, fair, and thorough in my decisions.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Judge, Summit County Court of Common Pleas since April 2011

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
Prior to taking the bench, I was in the private practice of law in Akron for nineteen years. From 1999-2011, I was a partner in the law firm of Roderick Linton Belfance LLP, practicing primarily in the areas of business and general civil litigation. I also had extensive experience in appellate practice and in tort and employment litigation and argued before the Supreme Court of Ohio and the federal Courts of Appeals on numerous occasions.

In addition to my litigation practice, I also represented community institutions in facilitating large projects that benefited the public. These included representing the Akron Civic Theatre through all phases of its 7 million renovation project and the University of Akron in its collaboration with Bath Township to establish and manage the Bath Nature Preserve. During my time in private practice, Judge O’Brien also served as an assistant prosecutor for the City of Hudson. Among my professional accolades, I was twice named a “Super Lawyer/Rising Star” in Cincinnati Magazine’s list of top lawyers in Ohio under 40 years of age.

In 1992, I began my career as a judicial law clerk/staff attorney for the Honorable William R. Baird of the Court of Appeals of Ohio, Ninth Appellate District. A former high school teacher, I have also been an adjunct professor of law at the University of Akron and, for many years, have been selected by the Supreme Court of Ohio to serve as a Reader/Grader of the State Bar Examination.

In 2010, I was selected by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to serve on the Merit Selection Panel to select the next Federal Bankruptcy Judge in the Northern District of Ohio. I am also the co-author of a legal treatise involving the introduction of evidence at trial. Ohio Motions in Limine: Evidence Exclusion Guide was published annually by Thomson West from 2007-2010.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am the incumbent for this seat, and have held this position since 2011. As a lawyer, educator, author, mother, and now judge, I have committed myself to excellence. I believe in the value of hard work and in investing my time and talent in my family and our community. My education, experience, and history of service to our community makes me extremely well-qualified to continue to serve as your Judge.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Have been an Acting Judge in the Ashland Municipal Court since January, 2019.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I am licensed to practice in all state courts as well as the Federal Court, Northern District of Ohio, from 1994 to present. For the 25+ years I have been an attorney, I have represented numerous clients in the Juvenile and Probate divisions. That includes, Delinquencies, Abuse/Dependency/Neglect, Traffic, Custody, Child Support, Unruly, UIFSA, Adult, and Permanent Custody. In Probate Court, I have filed multiple Estates, Adoptions, name changes, as well as filed Guardianships. I have held myself out to represent indigent clients at no cost to the client to afford them equal access to justice and due process. I am a Guardian ad Litem in both Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court, and am a Guardian for an incompetent adult. I also participate in Mock Trial and have served as a judge at the State Championship tournament in Columbus, Ohio over the past several years. In my work I have shown that I am able to work with other attorneys, law enforcement, parties, and Administrative agency personnel. I am also willing to put in the long hours needed to effectively run the Court.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
The present Judge is retiring at the end of the term in 2021. He has served for more than 23 years and there will be a void left when he is gone. I will fill that position and continue on with the same work strong ethic. I have great experience in both Juvenile and Probate Court. I have a strong passion for the law, and for trying to help children and society’s most vulnerable. I want to work with a goal to reunify children who have been removed form their homes, with stable parents or other stable homes as necessary. I also want to address the drug problem by getting at-risk children into programs. I will also go to the classrooms and speak to the children before they get to the Courtroom.

Juvenile Court needs a Judge who is able to listen and be slow to anger. To show compassion, but also firmness when necessary. To be understanding, and yet decisive. To treat people in the Court with dignity and respect, and also instill a respect of others for the Court. And be fair and impartial, treating each case on its own merits. I have been able to work well with others and am able to listen and be compassionate, but also able to be firm when necessary.