Feb. 6, 2009
Municipal, County Judges Attend Winter Conference
Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer administered the oath of office Thursday to the municipal and county court judges elected to leadership positions by the membership of their association. The swearing-in ceremony and remarks by the Chief Justice took place at the group’s annual three-day winter meeting.
The 2009 officers of the Association of Municipal/County Judges of Ohio include:
- Fairfield Municipal Court Judge Joyce A. Campbell – president
- Clermont County Municipal Court Judge James A. Shriver – first vice president
- Napoleon Municipal Court Judge John S. Collier – second vice president
- Bowling Green Municipal Court Judge Mark B. Reddin – secretary
- Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Michael T. Brandt – treasurer
- Parma Municipal Court Judge Kenneth R. Spanagel – immediate past president
Five new trustees were also sworn in by the Chief Justice.
Supreme Court Administrative Director Steven C. Hollon addressed the group on Wednesday. His Ohio Courts Update covered a number of different issues with a specific focus on the budget and a discussion of the budgetary difficulties facing local courts.
A portion of Hollon’s remarks centered on court costs and filing fees. “The Court opposes increases in court costs and filing fees, including new costs and fees, unless the revenue generated is directed to the operation of the courts or improvements to the administration of justice within the judicial branch,” he said. To underscore this point, Hollon referenced a July 2008 report of the Joint Committee on Court Costs and Filing Fees that State Rep. Matt Huffman co-chaired with Hollon.
In addition to hearing from the Supreme Court’s leadership, judges participated in several educational sessions such as a legislative update, hot topics in civil law, a discussion about Dayton’s license reinstatement program and a Judicial College course about judicial candidates’ ethical responsibilities and Ohio elections law.
Fellow judges provided the latest information on recent changes to traffic law including the new OVI repeat offender law and a status report on the state’s purchase of portable breath-alcohol testing machines. Judges also heard an in-depth presentation from Clermont County Municipal Court personnel on the operation of its OVI Court.
The meeting concludes today. About 200 municipal and county court judges registered.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow, 614.387.9250