The 11-member bipartisan Ohio Judicial Appointments Recommendation Panel tonight, Aug. 14, picked Democrat Valerie Finn-DeLuca, who works at the 2nd District Court of Appeals; Mason City Prosecutor Robert Peeler; and Mason attorney Jim Whitaker for Gov. Ted Strickland to consider for the court appointment.
Originally, 11 people applied to fill the vacancy that occurred after Heath died from a drug overdose during Memorial Day weekend.
All three finalists have been seeking judgeships and competed in 2007 for the Mason Municipal Court; Judge D. Andrew Batsche won the bench his father had presided over for 30 years.
In earlier interviews, all three thought they had a good chance. Finn-DeLuca may have the leg up, given she is the only Democrat — the same party as the governor who makes the ultimate choice — however, she said her experience working at the appeals court, where they tackle every type of legal question, should put her in good stead.
“I don’t know if it will make a difference (that she is a Democrat),” she said. “The governor has set this up to be a bipartisan process.”
Whitaker said his chances are excellent, given the broad spectrum of legal work he has handled throughout his career.
“I feel very honored I made the cut,” he said. “I looked at everyone else and my experience level, I’m bragging here, but I have the most diversity of everyone else. I’ve truly been in the general practice of law and that’s what a common pleas judge really needs.”
Peeler also said he expected to make the cut, especially since with his application he included recommendations from people he’s opposed in court.
The screening committee also interviewed Warren County Juvenile Court Magistrate Carolyn Duvelius, Assistant Warren County Prosecutor Gary Loxley and Warren County Judge Don Oda.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.
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