Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Melody Stewart.

Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Melody Stewart.

Eighth District Appeals Court Judge Melody Stewart served as a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court today and heard oral arguments about a claim involving an alleged asbestos-related death.

Judge Stewart replaced Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger,who recused herself from Burkhart v. H.J. Heinz Co., et al.,(Case No. 2013-0580). The case involves whether a video deposition taken in an earlier asbestos case can be used as evidence in the court case.

According to the Ohio Constitution, in the event of a recusal by a justice the chief justice can select any of the 69 sitting Ohio appellate court judges to sit temporarily on the Supreme Court.

Judge Stewart last served as a visiting judge on the Supreme Court in April 2011.

Judge Stewart has served on the appeals court since 2006.  Previously she was as an assistant law director for the cities of Cleveland and East Cleveland, and was an instructor at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Judge Stewart received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Cincinnati, her law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, and earned a Ph. D. at Case Western University School of Law.  She was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio on May 8, 1989.

“It’s an honor being asked to sit by assignment on the court” Judge Stewart said.

The Eighth District Court of Appeals serves Cuyahoga County and hears cases from county, municipal, and common pleas courts. In addition, the court hears original actions in habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, procedendo, and quo warranto.