Jan. 7, 2009
Retiring Judges Account for 600 Years of Combined Experience
Twenty-nine Ohio judges will retire by early this year. Collectively, they possess more than 600 years of combined experience on the bench.
The list includes judges who presided over appeals, common pleas, domestic relations, family, juvenile and probate courts – or some combination of multiple divisions – throughout the state. Most of the judges reached the constitutionally mandated retirement age while others retired in their 50s and 60s to pursue other interests.
Among them is Judge William H. Wolff Jr., who will retire from the Second District Court of Appeals on Jan. 31. He said he won’t ride off into the sunset just yet with plans to try mediation and arbitration work. He’s also open to accepting assignments to trial and appellate courts. As for his other numerous interests, Judge Wolff said he’ll have more time to devote to fly fishing, skiing, hiking, cooking, gardening and out-of-state children and grandchildren.
Just like Judge Wolff, more than half of the retiring judges served on the bench for at least 20 years, either in their current posts or in combination with past service as municipal court judges. Their successors were all chosen in the Nov. 4 election.
Judge Wolff offered this advice to new judges: “I suggest that you work hard, don’t forget what it’s like to be a practicing lawyer, don’t take yourself too seriously, and strive for excellence, not perfection. Excellence is expected and attainable; perfection is not.” He praised his successor, Judge Jeffrey Froelich, as a distinguished trial judge who enjoys the respect and confidence of the judges he will join. He said he has no doubt that Judge Froelich will make a seamless and effortless transition to the court of appeals.
A member of the appeals court since 1985, Judge Wolff also praised his colleagues, past and present, on the court of appeals. “I couldn’t have hand-picked better people to work with.”
“I have truly enjoyed the work of judging,” Judge Wolff said. “I have countless fond memories of the people I’ve met and worked with over the years, first as a trial judge and more recently as an appellate judge. I have been blessed with outstanding staff attorneys and with solid staff support. I have, for the most part, enjoyed a good working relationship with the bar. I found that if I respected the job the lawyers had to do, the lawyers respected the job I had to do.”
Retiring judges include:
- Brown County General/Domestic Relations – Judge R. Alan Corbin
- Carroll County Probate/Juvenile – Judge John Weyand
- Champaign County Probate/Juvenile – Judge John Newlin
- Coshocton County Probate/Juvenile – Judge Clifton Pierce
- Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations – Judge James Celebrezze
- Cuyahoga County General – Judge Kenneth Callahan
- Cuyahoga County General – Judge Judith Koch
- Cuyahoga County Probate – Judge John Corrigan
- Cuyahoga County Probate – Judge John Donnelly
- Defiance County Probate/Juvenile – Judge Stephen Ruyle
- Eighth District Court of Appeals – Judge Anthony Calabrese
- Gallia County Probate/Juvenile – Judge William Medley
- Lake County General – Judge Paul Mitrovich
- Lake County Juvenile – Judge William Weaver
- Licking County Domestic Relations – Judge Russell Steiner
- Lorain County Probate – Judge Frank Horvath
- Marion County Family Court – Judge Thomas Jenkins
- Miami County Probate/Juvenile – Judge Lynnita Wagner
- Ninth District Court of Appeals – Judge Lynn Slaby
- Ottawa County General/Domestic Relations – Judge Paul Moon
- Sandusky County General/Domestic Relations – Judge Harry Sargeant
- Second District Court of Appeals – Judge William Wolff
- Seneca County Probate/Juvenile – Judge Paul Kutscher
- Shelby County Probate/Juvenile – Judge Norman Smith
- Stark County General – Judge Richard Reinbold
- Summit County General – Judge Mary Spicer
- 10th District Court of Appeals – Judge Charles Petree
- 12th District Court of Appeals – Judge James Walsh
- Union County General/Domestic Relations – Judge Richard Parrott
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.