In case you missed the list of those who put in their names to Gov. Kasich to replace retiring Justice Evelyn Stratton, here it is.  It is interesting how many folks applied from Southwestern Ohio—an area generally underrepresented on the Ohio Supreme Court, although Justice-elect Sharon Kennedy is from Butler County.

Appellate Judges Who have Applied

Pat Fischer, of the First  District Court of Appeals in Hamilton County. Judge Fischer is also President of the Ohio State Bar Association this year.

Mary Donovan of the Second District (Montgomery County)

Judith French of the Tenth  District (Franklin County)

Matthew McFarland of the Fourth District, (Adams, Athens, Gallia, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton, and Washington counties.  Judge McFarland is from Scioto county).

Robert Paul Ringland of the Twelfth District (Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Madison, Preble and Warren counties.  Judge Ringland is from Clermont County. Justice-elect Kennedy’s court is in this district.)

Common Pleas Judges Who Have Applied

Craig Baldwin, Licking County

Pat DeWine, Hamilton County.  Judge DeWine just won a seat on the First District Court of Appeals.

Victor Haddad of Clermont County

Municipal Court Judge Applicant

Joyce Campbell of Fairfield

Non-Judicial Applicants

Thomas Coffey, senior counsel at Tucker Ellis in Cleveland.  Mr. Coffey is listed as a bankruptcy lawyer on the firm website.

Douglas Cole, founding partner of Organ Cole & Stock in Columbus.  Mr. Cole was state solicitor general (analogous to the U.S. solicitor general) under Attorney General Jim Petro, and a former partner at the Jones Day law firm. Elena Kagan was U.S. Solicitor General before she was tapped for the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Cole would be an interesting non-judicial choice.

Charles M. Miller, a partner at Keating Muething & Klekamp of Cincinnati (the former firm of Judge Pat Fischer).  Mr. Miller clerked for then-Justice (now Chief Justice) Maureen O’Connor from 2003-2005.

James W. Satola, the Federal Bar Association’s circuit vice president of the 6th Circuit.