Harrison County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Matthew P. Puskarich.

Harrison County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Matthew P. Puskarich.

New officers of the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges (OAJCP) were sworn in today by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor. Harrison County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Matthew P. Puskarich will lead the group as president in 2015.

Judge Puskarich has been the Harrison County Probate/Juvenile judge since February 2003. Prior to taking the bench, he was the Harrison County prosecuting attorney and a former Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney. Judge Puskarich serves on the Ohio Judicial Conference Committee for Judicial Ethics and Professionalism and on the Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Children & Families.

“I am honored to be selected to lead this esteemed group of judges,” Judge Puskarich said. “I look forward to welcoming all the newly elected judges who will become a part of an association that offers education, information, and camaraderie.”

The additional officers sworn in at the OAJCP’s winter meeting were:

• Butler County Juvenile Court Judge Kathleen Dobrozsi Romans, president-elect
• Erie County Juvenile Court Judge Robert C. DeLamatre, treasurer
• Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Timothy J. Grendell, secretary
• Lorain County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Debra Boros, immediate past president

The association consists of common pleas judges having juvenile court jurisdiction. The association promotes their common business interests and provides leadership for a just and effective juvenile court system throughout the state of Ohio. The association also addresses issues affecting juvenile abuse, dependency, and neglect; unruly juveniles (status offenders); and juvenile delinquency, as well as court administration aspects of these issues.