League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus Educational Fund Hearings
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■ VOTER INFORMATION BULLETIN | Special Advertising Section | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017 1 VOVOVOVOTERTERTERTER INFORMAINFORMAVOVOTERTERTITIONON BINFORMABULLETINULLETINTION Nonpartisan Guide to November 7, 2017 General Election For Franklin County Voters Nonpartisan Guide to November 7, 2017 General Election For Franklin County Voters B ULLETINIncluding... ColumbusIncluding... City Council Nonpartisan Guide to NovembColumbuser 7, 2017 City General Scho Elecol Botionar dFor Franklin County Voters City, VillageColumbus, Township City & SCochounciol Bol ard Races FranCoklinlumbus CountyI ncluding...City Municipal School Co Bourart dJudges City, Village, TownIssueship Pros/C & Schoonsol Board Races Franklin CoCountylumbus Municipal City Counci Courl t Judges Columbus City School Board City, Village, IsTosuewn shipPros/C & Schoonsol Board Races LEAFrGUEanklin OF Co unty Municipal Court Judges WOMEN VOIsTERSsue Pros/Cons LEAOF GUEMETROPOLIT OF AN COLUMBUS WOMEN VOTERS OFYo LEAMETROPOLITur soGUEurce for OFAN infor COmedLUMBUS voting, www.lwvcols.org WOMEN VOTERS OF METROPOLITAN COLUMBUS Your source for informed voting, www.lwvcols.org Your source for informed voting, www.lwvcols.org 2 VOTER INFORMATION BULLETIN | Special Advertising Section | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017 ■ Questions for all Municipal Court them how to Judge and manage a staff. To round out my experience I 2004-2013, Judge Advocate officer, individuals, and to assess and weigh motions submitted to the Court to Judge Candidates: courtroom. If elected Judge, I will take joined the City Attorney’s Office where Ohio Army National Guard. the needs and rights of all parties, provide accurate and unprejudiced Question 1: List your judicial the best practices from all of them and I tried civil cases in municipal court, Question 1: Judge, Franklin County while at the same time factoring in the decisions by synthesizing case law and experience (court and years) formulate a courtroom atmosphere common pleas and federal court. I Court of Common Pleas, March-July needs and rights of the community legislative history. I drafted decisions Question 2: What about your non- that administers justice that is fair, also served as an advisor for various 2015. Visiting Judge, July 2015. Judge, as a whole. These skills enabled me to for Motions for Summary Judgment, judicial experience qualifies you to be responsive, and respectful to all who city commissions and served as lead Franklin County Municipal Court, July- excel at determining dispositional and Discovery Motions, Motions to Dismiss, a judge? enter. counsel for administrative liquor December 2015. sentencing orders in each individual Motions for Relief from Judgment Question 3: Why are you running for Question 3: As I have traveled the license objections. Question 2: I spent most of my case. They also helped me develop and Motions in Limine for my Judge’s this particular court seat? State in my private practice, I have Question 3: I am running for this career in trial courts working as an my skills in maintaining appropriate approval. I also conducted pre-trials, seen and experienced varying particular court seat, because it is the assistant prosecutor, a job which judicial temperament, and the ability status conferences, and settlement degrees of success in how Municipal one I am most passionate about and allowed me to develop knowledge of to relate to and communicate with all conferences. I currently serve on the FRANKLIN COUNTY court judges perform their duties. It most qualified for. During my legal the law, understanding of courtroom people. Capital University Law School Alumni MUNICIPAL COURT is my belief that a Municipal Court career, I have had the opportunity procedure, and an appreciation for the Question 3: I am motivated to retain Association Board. I have served on Judge can no longer ignore the to participate extensively in both virtues of accountability and patience. my seat on the Franklin County the African American Law Alumni “where from, and the “how to” when criminal defense and prosecution in I am committed to fairness for all Municipal Court for the same reason Board at Capital University Law School Franklin County Municipal dealing with Defendants and victims. Franklin County. As a Franklin County parties. I also served as a soldier and I was initially motivated to run; it is and as the President of the John Judge – FTC 1/1/2018 As an example, I would look to the Municipal Court Judge for nearly 12 judge advocate officer in the Army the court of the people. Through my Mercer Langston Bar Association. As (vote for no more than 1) current opioid crisis in our State years I have had the honor of carrying and the Ohio Army National Guard, experience, I have learned the broad a mentor, I’ve presided over mock and county and point out that many out that role in the legal process and which reinforced my belief in hard reach and scope of the power of the trials and participated in both the Ohio GEORGE W. LEACH of the defendants and victims of serving the citizens of Franklin County. work. I was deployed to Afghanistan, court to not only impact the lives of Supreme Court Lawyer to Lawyer and 2461 Sherwood Rd, Columbus, OH this crisis and resulting crimes put The law is fluid and I enjoy continually where I saw first hand what happens those who come before it, but also Ohio Law and Leadership programs. 43209 families in two separate court systems learning in furtherance of performing to communities that lose faith in of the community as a whole. This Question 3: Franklin County Email: [email protected] simultaneously. Affected families find my duty at the highest level. Franklin the fairness of their courts. That has proven especially true through Municipal Court is the largest and Website: Facebook @ themselves before the Franklin County County Municipal Court is truly the experience led me to consider work my work in the Mental Health Court. busiest court in Ohio. The citizens georgeleachforjudge Domestic Relations division and in the people’s court. It is one of the busiest as a judge. The benefits of finding and improving of Franklin County need judges who Education: J.D. from Thomas M. Franklin County Municipal Court. As courts in the State of Ohio. I am Question 3: I served as a judge in alternatives to jail for our community’s are knowledgable in all aspects Cooley Law School an attorney/candidate practicing in challenged daily and it is rewarding. municipal court in 2015, and loved the mentally ill makes the community of Municipal Court, including civil, Occupation: Attorney both divisions (adult and Juvenile) and As both Columbus and Franklin opportunity to serve in multiple roles. safer, improves the quality of life criminal, and environmental issues. I Work Experience: Criminal Defense the Common Pleas Criminal division, I County become more diverse so does Municipal court judges maintain active of families, frees up court and jail am experienced in all three of these and Family Law Attorney am experienced with negotiating and the population that uses the court. trial dockets for both criminal and civil resources, and saves taxpayers areas of law and I understand the Question 1: This is the first time I forging a resolution that helps families I am proud to be on the forefront of cases, make bond determinations for dollars. As a judge I have committed to right balance of holding criminals have sought a Judicial position. Up to as defendants and victims. If elected language and cultural education in all kinds of criminal cases, and approve improving the lives of those caught in accountable to protect society while now I have been in private practice to the Franklin County Municipal Court the state of Ohio. Through the Ohio search warrants where probable the legal system through the cycles of treating each person, regardless for sixteen (16) years representing bench I have the in-depth knowledge Supreme Court language access cause can be shown. The municipal violence, unaddressed mental health of accusations, fairly. In addition private and court appointed clients and understanding of how the three advisory committee I help craft court is where we as citizens are most issues, drug dependence and poverty. to experience, I have both the throughout many Ohio counties. I (3) courts interact (via Defendants and training for interpreters going through likely to come into contact with the Municipal Court, I believe, provides me temperament perspective to become have practiced in Federal, State, and Victims) and the experience working the Supreme Court classification government, and it was a privilege to with the best foundation from which a successful judge, and, if elected, I Municipal counts, and have extensive resolutions that address all concerns process. I also assist in ensuring that serve there. to reduce crime and violence, and to will continue to fairly interpret the laws courtroom Jury and Bench trial of defendants and victims and the courts throughout Ohio are aware help build healthy adults, families and of Ohio and will strive to protect all experience. goals and expectations they have of the state and federal standards. CINDI MOREHART communities. citizens of Franklin County. Municipal Question 2: As a private attorney of our justice system. As the largest Over the last 12 years, I have had the 98 Grandview Dr, Dublin, OH 43017 Court is sometimes known as “The with extensive in-court experience in and busiest Municipal Court in Ohio, opportunity to watch Franklin County Email: [email protected] People’s Court,” as regular, everyday many Municipal and Common Pleas our Judges must be informed and Municipal Court change and evolve. It Website: www.morehartforjudge.com Franklin County Municipal Court citizens can find themselves standing courts, I have represented thousands responsive to administering justice is important to appreciate its history, Education: J.D. from Capital Judge – Commencing 1/3/2018 before a judge in Municipal Court.