Nov. 29, 2010
Nearly 30 Judges Retiring This Year
A combined 600-plus years of judicial experience will leave the bench by the close of 2010 as nearly 30 Ohio judges either retired earlier this year or will retire around the New Year.
Judges chose to retire early before their terms ended, could not run again due to age restrictions, or decided against running for re-election in 2010.
Contacted via email with a few questions, several judges were happy to share their fondest memories, what they will miss most about serving in the judiciary and details about their post-retirement plans.
Butler County Domestic Relations Court Judge Eva Kessler (term ends Dec. 31): “I will miss all the people! Domestic Relations Court is a place where all the diverse members of the community appear. I will miss the litigants, the attorneys and my co-workers. This is a court where you get to truly ‘see’ the good, the bad and the ugly in life.” Her retirement plans consist of new community volunteer programs, helping the local bar association with CLE, visiting judge assignments, traveling and “anything else interesting life has to offer.”
Clermont County Common Pleas Court Judge William Walker (term ends Dec. 31): “I imagine the thing I will miss most is the same as most judges – interaction with my excellent staff and the attorneys who appear before me daily. These relationships built over years will be hard to replace.” He plans on spending more time in Michigan on his sailboat and hopes to tour the Great Lakes that way.
Clermont County Domestic Relations Court Judge Michael Voris (term ends Jan. 1, 2011): “I will certainly miss the interaction with the many fine counsel who have practiced before this court. I will miss my wonderful staff. Many of them have been with me for many years. My fondest memory is thinking about the collaborative programs that have helped many children and their families resolve their conflicts enabling them to cope with the divorce process.” His plans include attending his oldest grandson’s wedding in China next year.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy McMonagle (term ends Jan. 7, 2011) said he would be hard-pressed to name a “favorite” memory from his time as a judge. “I intend to devote much more time to bicycling throughout the state and to do volunteer work other than in the law.”
Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Christine McMonagle (term ends Jan. 2, 2011) said she has no hobbies or plans. “I spent my pre-judicial career as a Cleveland Legal Aid attorney. I suspect some of my post-judicial career will be as a volunteer for the same wonderful organization.” She noted with a wink that the pay should be about the same.
Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court Judge Ronald Panioto (term ends Jan. 4, 2011): “The fondest memory of my time on the bench is the people I have met over the years. I have had the pleasure of meeting many outstanding and caring attorneys. I will miss seeing my staff of employees everyday.” He said he will fill his retirement days with golf.
Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Thomas Lipps (term ends Dec. 31): “I have a lot of specific fond memories, but the occasions that I remember most and that I will miss are those moments when a young person comes back years later and has made it. They tell me about their life and their children, education or jobs. Most attribute their turnaround to something that was said to them by a probation officer or a social worker or by me. These persons have given me much happiness, great satisfaction and the strength to try to help others currently appearing before the court.” Judge Lipps likes to fish and golf, and he hopes to study a foreign language and music.
Henry County Common Pleas Court Judge Keith Muehlfeld (term ends May 8, 2011): “My fondest memories are of the mock trial programs with fifth-graders from the county schools over the last 15 years. I will miss most my hard-working loyal staff and the good people of Henry County.” Judge Muehlfeld, who will be moving to South Carolina, will devote more time to tennis and golf in retirement and make good on a promise to his wife Karen to learn to ride a horse.
Sidney Municipal Court Judge Donald Luce (retired Oct. 31): “If I were to capture one memory apart from all the rest it surely would be the re-dedication of the Monumental Building, renowned as Ohio’s first Veteran’s Hall, as the new home of Sidney Municipal Court in 2000. This edifice was built in 1875 as a memorial to those Shelby Countians who perished during the Civil War. It is a three-story structure with an Opera House on the third floor that at one time provided the venue for the most famous Vaudeville troupes in the nation, including Bill Cody and his Wild West Show. This great hall is now the courtroom replete with 36-foot ceilings, atriums, balconies, prosceniums flanking the bench.” Judge Luce said he intends to write fiction and non-fiction and work as a visiting judge, arbitrator and mediator.
10th District Court of Appeals Judge Patrick McGrath (term ends Jan. 1, 2011): “It’s been a wonderful 22 years (on the bench on two different courts), and I want to thank all the attorneys and colleagues who have been such a positive part of the experience.” His fondest memories “are the positive comments by jurors and attorneys completing their experience in the courtroom after a trial as to the efforts made to obtain justice and fairness.” He said he likes sailing and golf and his plans include serving as a visiting judge. He helped develop the local visiting judge program as Franklin County Common Pleas Court administrative judge and now hopes to participate in it.
12th District Court of Appeals Judge William Young (term ends Feb. 9, 2011): “After 40 years on the bench it is impossible for me to choose one fondest memory, but I would have to say it would be the first time I was sworn in as a common pleas judge. I was sworn in by my father, Judge Warren C. Young, and I then joined him on the Warren County Common Pleas bench. I think I will miss the people I have had the privilege of working with these past 40 years, the attorneys, and the staff(s) that I have had. They have made what would be a stressful job into an enjoyable experience.” His major hobby entails showing and maintaining a couple older sports cars as well as visiting grandchildren scattered over the country and traveling and spending as much time with family as possible.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow, 614.387.9250.