In the last press event of 2012 Thursday, Ohio Gov. John Kasich announced the appointment of Judge Judith L. French of the 10th District Court of Appeals to replace retiring Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton.
Renaming the room where the press event today was held the Lincoln Room, Gov. Kasich, who's wrapping up the year with a flurry of approximately 42 bill signings including an Executive Order dated yesterday, said that while he had only recently met Judge French, his decision was that she was the most qualified to fill Stratton's vacant seat.
“While our state will miss Justice Stratton, Ohioans can be confident Judge French has the diverse experience and strong legal mind required to serve on Ohio’s highest court. Judge French has demonstrated her dedication to preserving the rule of law, to Ohio and its constitution, and I’m proud to appoint her to the Supreme Court,” said Kasich.
Watch the event on YouTube
French replaces Stratton who announced in May that she would retire by the end of the year. Stratton’s term expires on January 1, 2015. In October, Gov. Kasich began accepting applications for individuals interested in an appointment to Justice Stratton’s seat, and tapped seven distinguished legal professionals to provide independent advice and help evaluate applicants to ensure a capable successor to Stratton was chosen.
Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett congratulated Governor Kasich's leadership in appointing Mahoning County native Judge Judith French to the Ohio Supreme Court saying that his choice brings honesty, temperament, and a distinguished legal background to the bench.
"Governor Kasich made the right choice today. Judge French has been committed to fairly and impartially interpreting the law for as long as I've known her and her proven legal experience and objectivity will serve the Supreme Court and people of Ohio well. Judge French is a supreme pick to succeed Justice Stratton and I look forward to her new role serving the people of Ohio."
Vita of Judge French
French has been practicing law since her graduation from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1988. In 1993 she began her service to the state of Ohio as Deputy Director of Legal Affairs at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. She went on to serve as Section Chief and Chief Counsel to Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery from 1997-2002 and as Chief Counsel to Ohio Governor Bob Taft from 2002-2004. She is a member of the Constitutional Modernization Commission co-chaired by Speaker William Batchelder and Rep. Vernon Sykes and serves on the OSU Moritz College of Law National Council, the Ohio Women’s Bar Association, and has been a mentor in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. French is also a board member of Amethyst, Inc., a center for long-term addiction treatment with safe housing for women and their children.
Judge French's biography
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