Middletown judicial seat to be on November ballot

The filing deadline to fill the unexpired term of the late Middletown Municipal Judge Mark Wall is a week from Tuesday, the Butler County Board of Elections announced.

MORE: Middletown Judge Mark W. Wall dies at 70

Petitions to fill the seat must be filed by 4 p.m. Feb. 21 for the Nov. 7 general election. State law requires petitions for candidacy of a municipal judgeship be filed no later than 10 days following a vacancy.

Wall was re-elected to a six-year term as the Middletown Municipal judge in 2013. The term for the seat expires in 2019. Anyone elected will serve the remaining two years on the unfilled term.

Any candidate wishing to file may contact the elections office Candidate & Ballot Services Department at (513) 887-3700. Candidates are also required to attend a judicial candidate seminar conducted by the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Conduct this year.

MORE: Somber day in courthouse after Middletown judge’s death

Though a new judge will be elected, Ohio Gov. John Kasich will need to make an appointment to the seat. The Butler County GOP is expected to make a recommendation, but details on the procedure have not been released.

In the interim, the Ohio Supreme Court has appointed three retired judges to hear the cases of Wall, who died Saturday.

About the Author