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Scioto County Judge To Lead Common Pleas Judges In 2013
By: Court News Ohio
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Scioto County Judge Howard H. Harcha III will serve as president of the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association for 2013 after his election Thursday during the annual winter conference.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor administered the oath of office to Judge Harcha and the other judges elected to leadership positions. She also spoke briefly and assisted in handing out 13 Golden Gavel awards to retiring judges with at least 10 years of service on the bench.
Nearing the completion of his 22nd year on the bench in Portsmouth, Judge Harcha served one six-year term in Portsmouth Municipal Court. Currently serving his third term on the common pleas bench, he was elected in 1996 and has been re-elected twice.
“I consider it an honor to serve the association, and I appreciate the trust my fellow judges have placed in me to serve as their president,” Judge Harcha said.
Additional association officers include:
Darke County Judge Jonathan P. Hein, president-elect
Franklin County Judge Guy L. Reece II, first vice president
Licking County Judge Thomas M. Marcelain, second vice president
Cuyahoga County Judge David T. Matia, third vice president
Lucas County Judge Linda J. Jennings, fourth vice president
Montgomery County Judge Barbara P. Gorman, secretary
Wayne County Judge Mark K. Wiest, treasurer
Trumbull County Judge Peter J. Kontos, past president
The Golden Gavel honorees include:
Franklin County Judge John F. Bender
Franklin County Judge John P. Bessey
Washington County Judge Susan E. Boyer
Warren County Judge Neal B. Bronson
Stark County Judge Charles E. Brown Jr.
Hamilton County Judge Dennis S. Helmick
Lucas County Judge James D. Jensen
Stark County Judge Lee Sinclair
Trumbull County Judge John M. Stuard
Cuyahoga County Judge Ronald Suster
Allen County Judge Richard K. Warren
Champaign County Judge Roger B. Wilson
Lorain County Judge Edward M. Zaleski
The common pleas judges association’s membership includes all general division judges of the state’s common pleas courts, and its mission is “to improve the law, the legal system and the effective administration of justice.”
Bret Crow is a writer for Court News Ohio.