Former Hamilton County prosecutor among those applying for Mason spot

Since November 2005, he’s been the owner of Michael K. Allen & Associates, described in the resume as “a small law firm with a concentration on criminal defense.”

Also submitting resumes by the Oct. 1 deadline were:

• Douglas Adkins, Middletown’s recently appointed community revitalization director, who previously served as Middletown’s city prosecutor before taking on his current role.

• Bethany Bennett of Mason, the city’s assistant city prosecutor since November 2008 who last month was named interim city prosecutor.

• Juliette Gaffney Dame of Mason, Middletown’s assistant prosecutor, who served as Mason’s assistant prosecutor from April 2007 to April 2009.

• Michael Davis of Mason, a trial attorney since 1997 who previously served as Lebanon’s assistant prosecutor.

• Neal Duiker of Sylvania, who graduated from University of Toledo College of Law last December and most recently served as law clerk for Lucas County Children’s Services.

• William Ehrstine of Mason, Montgomery County’s assistant public defender since 2000.

• Robert Fischer of Mason, a criminal defense attorney who served as Mason’s assistant prosecutor from 1999 to 2001.

• John Flessa of Cincinnati, a general practice attorney with an emphasis in criminal defense and Magistrate Court protection who served as Springdale’s Magistrate Court prosecutor from 1985 to 2007.

• Jim Hardin of Cincinnati, a Mason private practice attorney who specializes in criminal and small business law.

• Joshua Michael Muennich of Dayton, Montgomery County’s assistant prosecuting attorney since 2002.

• Jerry Shade of Loveland, an attorney since 2002 who currently concentrates on general civil litigation, domestic relations and family law, estate planning and criminal defense.

The 12 applicants for the job are looking to replace Robert Peeler, who was sworn in last month as Warren County Common Pleas Court judge after Gov. Ted Strickland appointed him to fill the bench left vacant by the death last May of Judge James Heath.

Peeler will have to run to keep his seat on the court in May 2010.

Officials said the city will likely not choose a successor for Peeler until the end of the year.