Category: Uncategorized

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I have had the honor to serve as a Lucas County Juvenile Court Judge since my first election to office in 2004 until present. (Sworn in December 2, 2004) I have served as the Administrative Judge for Lucas County Juvenile Court since April, 2007 to present.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I was appointed to serve as an Assistant prosecuting attorney, Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office from November, 1981 until November, 2004 upon my election as Lucas County Juvenile Court judge. I was assigned to the Juvenile Division and the General Trial Division, with the majority of my time assigned to the Juvenile Division. I held supervisory positions in the Juvenile Division and the Senior Protection Unit.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
It has been an honor to serve the children, youth, and families of Lucas County who find themselves before the Juvenile Court-many times out of no fault of their own. I have witnessed youth make important changes in their lives to become productive members of our community. I have witnessed families address safety and well-being issues to create safe, healthy and loving forever homes for children.

I am grateful to our community members and stakeholders who join Lucas County Juvenile Court, as together, we provide meaningful interventions that are age-appropriate, developmentally-sound best practices as we work with children, youth and families in their journey of change. I am committed to Lucas County Juvenile Court’s Mission to: ensure fairness, equity, and access to justice for all children and families regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation; ensure public safety; protect our community’s children; preserve families; work with our community to develop and enforce responsible behavior for adults and children; and ensure balance between consequences and rehabilitation while holding offenders accountable for their actions.

My goal is that every person who appears before Lucas County Juvenile Court, regardless of the reason, will be treated with the same respect and in the same manner that I would want and expect for my child, family, or friend.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
10 years, Clark County Municipal Court; 18 years, Clark County Probate Court

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
Perhaps the best training ground for the judiciary was my trial experience as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Clark County for 8 1/2 years. There, I handled more than 1,000 felony offenses—trying over 100 jury trials. It is nearly impossible to garner that experience anymore. When I first took the bench in 1993, I was, then, very comfortable in the courtroom.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
The Probate Court of Clark County, Ohio has garnered a state wide reputation for efficient, professional, and courteous service. I have been fortunate to have had a wonderful, polite, and competent deputy clerk staff working with me over the past 18 years to secure this reputation. We are still in third gear and anxious to continue.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
It has been my honor and privilege to have served as Judge of the Union County Common Pleas Court, General Division, since February of 2009. I have been widely recognized for my proactive efforts and innovative treatment ideas in combating the drug problem in Union County. I established Union County’s first felony drug court in 2010. My drug court has been twice certified by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Specialized Dockets.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio and raised on the family farm just outside of Zanesfield, Ohio. I am the former managing partner of the law firm of Cannizzaro, Fraser, Bridges, Jillisky and Streng, LLC, a firm I co-founded with partner John Cannizzaro in 1982. During my 27 years at CFBJS, our law firm grew to become Marysville’s largest and achieved and thereafter maintained the highest possible rating by the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Network.

I graduated from The Ohio State University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Agriculture and from Capital University Law School in 1979. I was admitted to practice law by the Ohio Supreme Court in November, 1979, and thereafter admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. I was twice appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court to serve on the Ohio Public Defender Commission.

Before becoming judge, I was perhaps best known locally for my public service from 1995 through 2002 as a Union County Commissioner where I was recognized as a leader for my ability to work with both government and the public to create consensus, to effectively meet the demands of a growing community, and to deal with difficult decisions in a fair and impartial manner while following the law. While a commissioner, I served on the Board of Trustees of the County Commissioners’ Association of Ohio for 5 years.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
During my tenure as judge, my staff and I have effectively handled an ever increasing number of pending criminal, civil and domestic cases. We are committed to serving the public and ensuring that every case is handled with fairness, impartiality, and efficiently managed. I am readily accessible to, and enjoy a good working relationship with the lawyers who practice in my court. I am committed to helping those who need help and who are willing to change and work closely with the Union County Mental Health and Recovery Board to ensure that mental health and addiction services are readily available right here in our county.

I am humbled and honored by the trust and confidence placed in me by the citizens of Union County. Thank you for the privilege of allowing me to serve as your Common Pleas Judge.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court General Division: 1997 – present (24 years) 4 years – Administrative Judge, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, General Division (2010 through 2013) Commercial Docket Judge ( 4+ years)

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
In law school, served a judicial externship on the Eighth District Court of Appeals; Served a law clerk to U.S. District Court Magistrate; Practiced law for 7 years handling civil and criminal cases at the trial and appellate level; Served as a mediator and arbitrator Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court ADR Department

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
In law school, served a judicial externship on the Eighth District Court of Appeals; Served a law clerk to U.S. District Court Magistrate; Practiced law for 7 years handling civil and criminal cases at the trial and appellate level; Served as a mediator and arbitrator Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court ADR Department

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Judge on the Fourth District Court of Appeals August 3, 2020, to present.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
General Practitioner for 14 years at Peelle Law Offices, Co., LPA, wherein I became partner in 2014.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
My goal is to maintain a conservative voice on the Fourth District Court of Appeals. My job is not to legislate from the bench. I believe in our constitution and will apply the law as written.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
N/A

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have over 30 years of public service in every position that makes up the Ottawa County Probate and Juvenile Court. Since I have walked in the shoes of the Caseworker, Probation Officer, Clerk, Prosecutor, Public Defender and Agency Attorney, I offer a unique and extraordinary judicial perspective. It has been my privilege to represent clients in Ottawa, Sandusky, Wood, Lucas and Erie County Probate and Juvenile Courts. In the last year alone, I have represented clients in adoptions, guardianships, estates, custody, child support, and juvenile delinquency, as well as Ottawa County CASA in abuse, neglect and dependency cases. I have been a tireless advocate to protect the rights afforded to all citizens and I will continue to uphold the rule of law. I am the only candidate prepared for the familiar daily docket, the specialized dockets and the unique challenges now facing this Court and the people we serve.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
The natural progression of my over 30 years in public service makes me the most qualified candidate in Ottawa County. My familiarity with community resources and regular practice within the Ottawa County Probate and Juvenile Court fosters continuity and allows for a seamless transition to the next generation of sound leadership and continued progress. To keep Ottawa County a safe and sought after place to live, we have a duty to preserve continuity and confidence in the upper most reaches of our government. Our Courts are not interchangeable; consequently, my extensive experience within the Probate and Juvenile Court matters.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Huron County Common Pleas Court, Probate & Juvenile Divisions, 2002 to present

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
Private practice from 1992 to 2002

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I believe that probate and juvenile courts are places where incredibly important decisions about families and the most vulnerable members of our communities are made. Those decisions have far reaching implications. We can redirect delinquent and unruly youth while holding them accountable for their actions. We can help keep families together. We can promote justice for the neglected and marginalized. I am very grateful for the opportunity to help make a difference in this arena, and I look forward to the opportunities another term would bring to continue this vital work.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Practicing since 2001 in small, rural Vinton County.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
My small town values and strong work ethic were learned in my small home county which I will reflect on the bench if elected.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
There is an opening for the part time judgeship which will allow me to continue my private practice. I have always aspired to be a judge.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
County Court Judge (1989 to 2014) Probate Juvenile Court Judge (2015 to present)

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have been engaged in the practice of law since 1981 and bring 32 years of judicial experience to the bench.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
To continue my existing programs and develop new ones.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I have served in the position for which I am now a candidate since 2013.Prior to that I served as the acting judge in the Hardin County Municipal Court from 2005 to 2013.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I am the only member of the local bar that has tried serious cases such as capital homicide cases and product liability cases.

Prior to becoming a judge, I served on the governing boards of both the Ohio Association of Justice (Ohio’s Plaintiff’s Bar) and the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. I was one of 40 young lawyers chosen in 1995 to attend the Trial Lawyers College and be mentored by nationally renowned trial lawyers such as Gerry Spence, Richard “Racehorse” Haines, and Johnny Cochran, among others. I am the only or 1 of only 2 members of the local bar who has handled million dollar civil litigation.

My legal practice geographically covered the area from Chicago east to Boston and Ohio south to Georgia. I am the only attorney in my county who has actively practiced in Federal Court other than bankruptcy, having appeared in the Southern and Northern districts of Ohio as well as the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

As an Adjunct Professor at Ohio Northern University, I developed and taught a first of its kind (in the U.S.) class on expert witnesses; taught government class, Juvenile law and coached the Mock Trial team. I served as an associate counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund and referral attorney for both the American Center For Law and Justice and the National Rifle Association. In 2004 I served as one of the Ohio Counsel for President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign and as a recount witness.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
Due to my experience, I am in the position to make much needed change in the local court system. Currently, I am in the midst of reconfiguring the local Common Pleas system, which has not been changed since 1903. I am currently scheduled to testify at the Ohio Senate as a proponent for this legislation, which I shepherded through the approval process at the Ohio Supreme Court and helped to write. This change will more evenly divide the workload between the two judges in our county and help cases in Probate and family law be more expeditiously decided. I believe that it would be helpful for me to be in my position when this transition takes place to mentor the new judge, work out wrinkles caused by the change and provide some degree of continuity to the new system.

In addition, I am in the process of competing for a very large grant from the Federal government for my treatment court and if it is successful, my experience on the bench will be helpful in complying with the terms of the grant. My treatment court was one of only four recommended by the Ohio Supreme Court and the only Ohio court selected to participate in a national study to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment court model. This is a project that may be disrupted if there is a change in leadership during the process.

Finally, I am a lifelong resident of my community and am committed to trying to use my service to improve my local court system and mentor the younger lawyers to prepare the next generation of leaders and judges in my county.