It is often said that in Ohio politics, a good last name is worth ten points on Election Day and a lifetime of “Wait, which one are you again?” at the local bar association holiday party. For attorneys navigating Ohio’s 12 appellate districts, the roster of Ohio appellate judges can sometimes feel like a family reunion.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re seeing double (or triple) while checking the docket, you aren’t alone. Whether it’s a matter of “name familiarity” or simply a highly efficient path to the family business, the Ohio appellate bench has a long-standing tradition of keeping it in the family.
The “same name” game
Currently, two districts stand out for their concentration of shared surnames. If you’re filing in the Eighth District, you better be specific about which Gallagher you’re addressing. The district currently features three:
- Judge Eileen A. Gallagher
- Judge Eileen T. Gallagher
- Judge Sean C. Gallagher
Meanwhile, over in the Eleventh District, the “Lynch” name is a double feature. Judge Matt Lynch and Judge Scott Lynch (who happens to be Matt’s nephew) currently serve together, marking a rare instance of two generations of the same family sitting on the same appellate bench concurrently.
The legacy bench: Following in the footsteps
Beyond shared surnames, several of our current appellate judges are continuing legacies established by their parents or grandparents. While the count fluctuates with every election cycle, at least three of our current appellate jurists are direct descendants of former Ohio judges:
- Judge Peter B. Abele (Fourth District): Paving a path first trodden by his father, the late Homer “Pete” E. Abele, who spent over two decades on the same Fourth District bench.
- Judge Frank D. Celebrezze III (8th District): A name that is practically synonymous with the Ohio judiciary. He is the grandson of the late Chief Justice Frank D. Celebrezze and the nephew of former Justice James Celebrezze.
- Judge Robert A. Hendrickson (12th District): He has quite literally followed his father, retired Judge William R. Hendrickson, into the exact same judicial seat.
A benefit or a burden?
Is it a coincidence? Or is it just that “Abele” and “Celebrezze” look particularly good on a yard sign? While the cynics might call it “ballot name recognition,” there is a collegial argument to be made that the path to the bench is simply clearer when you’ve seen it walked before. After all, if you grew up watching your dad or uncle write appellate opinions, the jumpstart to the bench probably feels less like a leap of faith and more like a logical career progression.
In the meantime, the rest of us will just keep checking the middle initials in the Eighth District to make sure we’re addressing the correct Gallagher.