Office: Circleville Municipal Court
Age: 53
Residence: Ashville, OH
Email: elisapeters906@gmail.com
Occupation: Court Magistrate
Education: J.D. The Ohio State University College of Law (now The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law)
Work Experience: Pickaway County Common Pleas Court Magistrate since 1998
Family: Married with 4 children and 3 step-children
Affiliations: Member and Deacon at Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Member of Pickaway County Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio Association of Magistrates, Circleville Sunrise Rotary (Immediate Past President), Child Conservation League, Pickaway Addiction Action Coalition, Friends of the Circleville Parks
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years):
In 1998, I was appointed to serve as Court Magistrate in the Pickaway County Common Pleas Court, Pickaway County Juvenile Court and Circleville Municipal Court. I have served primarily in the Pickaway County Common Pleas Court since 2004, presiding over the domestic relations docket and domestic violence protection orders/civil stalking orders. In addition, I have served as the Court Magistrate in the South Bloomfield Mayor’s Court since 2007 and in the Ashville Mayor’s Court beginning in January 2019.
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
While my last twenty-one years have been on the bench, prior to that I served as an Assistant Pickaway County Prosecutor and Assistant Circleville Law Director where I gained valuable trial experience, performed legal research and learned to dissect and apply the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure. I began as an attorney in private practice in 1993.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I grew up in Pickaway County and returned after college and law school to work and raise my family. When a vacancy was created by Judge Gary Dumm’s retirement, I decided to run for the seat because it provides a way to continue to serve the community. I have an established record of commitment to public service on behalf of the citizens of Pickaway County and have developed a reputation as a fair and impartial jurist with excellent judicial temperament. The Municipal Court is on the front line of the opioid crisis and has many opportunities to make a difference in the lives of those persons with who enter the system with a substance use disorder. I welcome the challenge of striking a balance between rehabilitation, in exploring and applying creative treatment options, and punishment by incarceration. My ultimate goal is to continue to be approachable, respectful of all litigants, and firm but fair in continuing to build success for the Court and our community.