Miami County Municipal Court
Judge Mel Kemmer.

Miami County Municipal Court
Judge Mel Kemmer.

About midway through his second term on the bench, Miami County Municipal Court Judge Mel Kemmer retired on Tuesday.

In a letter to Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, Judge Kemmer cited “OPERS benefit limitations” in Senate Bill 343 as the reason for retiring early.

Elected to the position in 2003, Judge Kemmer was re-elected in 2009. He practiced law for more than 26 years before becoming a judge. Before that, Judge Kemmer worked as an analytical chemist for several years after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry education in 1970. He earned his law degree in 1978. His professional background also includes serving as a municipal court prosecutor, assistant county prosecutor and juvenile court prosecutor.

Judge Kemmer’s term expires on December 31, 2015. Until his successor is named, Judge Kemmer will continue to serve the municipal court as a retired assigned judge.

According to Article IV, Section 13 of the Ohio Constitution, the governor has sole authority to fill all judicial vacancies in the state. Judge Kemmer’s replacement will have to run in the 2013 November General Election to fill the unexpired term.