Wednesday - Sept. 15: Retired Common Pleas Court Judge David Tobin endorsed Judge Melissa Byers-Emmerling as his replacement for his former seat as Columbiana County Common Pleas Judge. Tobin announced his endorsement at a political fund raiser held a week ago yesterday at the Wellsville SOI Lodge on Main St. Tobin retired this past summer. Instead of appointing a replacement the Governor decided to fill the vacancy with visiting judges until after this fall's General Election.
Judge Tobin gave a ringing endorsement speaking highly of Byers-Emmerling legal career experience, first as a CC Prosecuting Attorney and then as EL Municipal Court Judge for over the past 20 years. Tobin remarked that in her career Byers-Emmerling has dealt with the whole range of case types. Tobin noted he has worked with Byers-Emmerling while she was with the Prosecutor's Office and has since followed her career when she moved on to Municipal Court Judge. He said he could not think of anyone better qualified to fill the Common Pleas seat.
The theme of last Wednesday's event was an "Italian Christmas Eve: Feast of the Seven Fishes". There was a packed house enjoying the sumptuous meal prepared by Wellsville's Pinky Checkler Gill and members of the SOI Lodge. Mrs. Gill is the owner of Nick's Pizza in Wellsville.
Judge Melissa Byers-Emmerling was one of the first Municipal Court Judges in Ohio to create an award winning intensive supervised probation program. She created the EL Court's Litter Patrol Program where nonviolent defendants are ordered to do community service. The program is funded by grants that Byers-Emmerling got. She also established an electronically monitored house arrest program that has saved the county over $1 million.
Judge Byers-Emmerling was the first Judge in Columbiana County to be elected President of the Ohio Municipal & County Court Judges Association. She was chosen by the Ohio Supreme Court to serve on the Future Commission and was selected to attend the National Judicial College to serve as a legal instructor to judges and attorneys. Currently she is a Mentor Judge for new judges.
Judge Melissa Byers-Emmerling is a Wellsville native and a WHS Alumni. She is also an alumni of Miami of Ohio and a graduate of the University of Akron Law School. She is the wife of Attorney Fred Emmerling and they currently reside in the Calcutta area. The Emmerlings have one son who is a first year student at Miami of Ohio.
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