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Personal Background
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Born in Bellefontaine
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Grew up in Bellefontaine and at Indian Lake
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Worked in family business at Indian Lake, currently part owner of
the family century farm.
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Graduated from St. Patrick’s Elementary and Bellefontaine High
School
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Earned a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University in
Cleveland (1966)
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Received a Degree of Juris Doctor from the Ohio State University
College of Law (1969)
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Married to Martha, three children, four grandchildren
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Active in church, civic and service organizations including
Kiwanis, Logan County Residential Homes Board, St. Mary’s of the
Woods parish council, Taught CCD at St. Patrick’s, Calvary
Cemetery Trustee.
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Trustee of Mary Rutan Hospital for fifteen years before becoming
Common Pleas Court Judge.
Legal Experience
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Common Pleas General Division Judge for Logan County since 1990.
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Assigned by the Supreme Court to be visiting judge in twelve other
counties.
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Admitted to practice in 1969.
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Eight years experience as a prosecutor, first in municipal court
then in common pleas court.
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Twenty years experience in a private practice including civil and
criminal trials.
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Member, Logan County, Ohio State and American Bar Associations.
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Fellow of the Ohio Bar Foundation.
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Member and Past President of the William Howard Taft Inns of
Court, Ohio Northern University.
Diligence on the Bench
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Keep a current docket, start court on time, make timely decisions.
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Attend required continuing legal education, occasionally teaching
CLE.
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Strive to improve the judicial system by participating in various
judicial committees, former member and sub-committee chair of the
Supreme Court’s Committee on Implementation of Racial Fairness
Guidelines.
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Established a Common Ground parenting classes for couples
in divorce with children.
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Worked with other judges, the bar association and the community to
have the Supreme Court and the Ohio Legislature create a new
judgeship for the family court for Logan County.
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Established a mediation system to resolve cases before going to
trial.
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Helped organize the Community Corrections Planning Board.
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Helped organize and establish the West Central Community Based
Correctional Facility, served on Board and as secretary for
Board. Currently serving as a member and secretary of its
advisory board.
Judicial Integrity
Judges must strive to be independent and impartial. A Judge’s
oath is to follow the law without respect to persons.
The judiciary is an independent third branch of
government. While courts must cooperate with the executive and
legislative authorities, they must guard their independence and
strive to operate with efficiency and competence.
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