Office: Municipal Court
Age: 61
Residence: Hamilton, OH
Email: kbforjudge@gmail.com
Website: https://votekaribloom.com/
https://twitter.com/KBforJudge
https://www.facebook.com/KBforJudge/
Occupation:
Trial Attorney Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office
Education: J.D. from the University of Cincinnati
Work Experience: Public Defender since 2012
Endorsements: Cincinnati Women’s Political Caucus: https://www.cincinnatiwomenspoliticalcaucus.org/2019-endorsements, Hamilton County Democratic Party, Equality Cincinnati PAC, Bold New Democracy
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have a variety of non-judicial legal experiences that make my background more qualified for a judicial role than other candidates. I have worked in state government, participated in state-level budget decisions, edited parts of Ohio’s Administrative Code, worked with professionals from the Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio Supreme Court, Ohio Senate, Ohio House of Representatives, and all levels of court in Hamilton County. I have a passion for improving the justice system for everyone involved. Though I’ve spent my time as a public defender, I care deeply for the victims of crime as the populations of victims and defendants are often intertwined. I have worked to teach others about trauma-informed services, ending the cycle of abuse and trauma, and procedural justice. I work well on a team and believe that cooperation in the courthouse among judges is the pathway to progress and reform.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I have spent the majority of my career arguing cases in the Hamilton County Courthouse. I have seen where the system can fall short of serving its citizens-and how easily those missteps create havoc for people. Most of the Municipal Court judges on the bench right now were appointed or elected straight out of the prosecutor’s office. The prosecutor’s perspective is important, but other perspectives are necessary to make sure that the Court is well rounded. As a public defender, I work to make sure everyone’s rights are protected because no one has rights unless everyone has rights. I am running because I believe I can accomplish that goal on a greater scale as a Municipal Court Judge for District 5. I can ensure that everyone appearing before me is respected and heard; that includes victims, defendants, attorneys, and witnesses.