Jan. 22, 2009
Governor Names Two New Members To Judicial Appointments Panels
Columbus attorney Michael Miller and Dayton police officer Derric D. McDonald were tabbed today by Gov. Ted Strickland to serve as new at-large members of the Ohio Judicial Appointments Recommendation Panels (OJARP), which assist the Governor in the selection of judges for vacancies in Ohio courts.
Miller will replace Columbus attorney Charles “Rocky” Saxbe, who has served on the initial panel since 2007. McDonald will replace Janica Pierce, who is a member of the second at-large panel.
Strickland established the first at-large panel in January 2007 to evaluate the qualifications of judicial applicants and then make non-binding recommendations to the governor based on their evaluations. He created a second at-large panel was in June 2007.
“OJARP members commit countless hours on a volunteer basis to help me choose the most qualified, competent judges to serve our state’s courts, and I have been pleased with the selection process over the past two years,” Strickland said. “I offer my deep gratitude to Rocky and Janica for their dedicated service on the at-large panels, and I welcome Michael and Derric to their new roles. They understand the importance of a judiciary that serves the people with integrity, good judgment and highest knowledge of the law. I look forward to working with them.”
Miller, of Hilliard, is currently of counsel at the Columbus law firm of Kegler, Brown, Hill and Ritter. He previously served as the prosecuting attorney for Franklin County from 1980 to 1996 and as Franklin County Municipal Court Judge from 1977 to 1980. Miller received his bachelor’s and law degrees from the Ohio State University. “I am eager to join OJARP and contribute to the panel’s important responsibility of thoughtfully reviewing and recommending judicial candidates to Gov. Strickland,” Miller said.
McDonald, of Dayton, has served the Dayton Police Department since 1990 and is currently a patrol officer for the 2nd District. Previously, he served as a patrol officer for the Germantown Police Department. He received an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Sinclair Community College in 1988. “As a law enforcement officer, I feel very strongly that our communities deserve experienced and objective judges,” McDonald said. “I look forward to serving on this judicial panel and contributing to the process of recommending new judges to Gov. Strickland.”
Each at-large panel consists of five members, appointed by the governor for renewable two-year terms. One member serves as the panel chair, who leads the panel’s operations to fill each vacancy. As each vacancy occurs, the at-large panel is assisted by regional groups of six members, who are appointed by the governor as vacancies occur in their area of the state. Regional panels include one member who represents the local labor and consumer community and another member who represents the area’s business and industry interests.
As a judicial vacancy occurs, the assigned at-large panel provides notices and wide distribution regarding the availability of the open post, including a posting on the governor’s Web site, www.governor.ohio.gov 
, and OJARP’s Web site, www.ojarp.org . Any Ohio attorney who meets the legal requirements for judicial appointment is eligible to apply for consideration.
The panel evaluates the applicant’s background and ability to serve fairly and effectively; the applicant’s contribution to bringing diverse perspectives to Ohio’s judiciary; and the likelihood that the applicant could and would effectively campaign to retain his or her seat if appointed to the bench. OJARP has assisted in Strickland’s appointment of 22 judges across the state.
Current OJARP At-Large Panel Members
At-large panel #1
Janet E. Jackson (panel chair), president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio
Meg Flack, board member, Ohio League of Women Voters
Doloris Learmonth, managing partner, Peck Shaffer and Williams LLP in Cincinnati
Joy Malek Oldfield, partner, Hill Hardman Oldfield, LLC, in Akron
Michael Miller, former Franklin County prosecuting attorney; and of counsel at Kegler, Brown, Hill and Ritter in Columbus
At-large panel #2
James Ray (panel chair), retired judge, Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division
Derric McDonald, Dayton Police Department patrol officer
John Kulewicz, attorney, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP
Betty Davis, president, Community Concepts, Inc.
Isabel Framer, court certified Spanish/English interpreter; chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Judicial Interpreters and Translators