Top row from left: Fairborn Municipal Court Judge Beth W. Root, Athens County Municipal Court Judge William A. Grim, Euclid Municipal Court Judge Deborah A. LeBarron. Bottom row, from left: Dayton Municipal Court Judge Carl S. Henderson, Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Michael T. Brandt.

Top row from left: Fairborn Municipal Court Judge Beth W. Root, Athens County Municipal Court Judge William A. Grim, Euclid Municipal Court Judge Deborah A. LeBarron. Bottom row, from left: Dayton Municipal Court Judge Carl S. Henderson, Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Michael T. Brandt.

Leaders among Ohio’s municipal and county court judges took the oath of office on Monday after being elected as officers of their statewide association.

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor administered the oath at a luncheon during the group’s annual three-day winter conference. The chief justice also detailed her proposal to expand the scope of the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission and rename it the Ohio Criminal Justice Commission.

The 2014 officers of the Association of Municipal/County Judges of Ohio include:

• Fairborn Municipal Court Judge Beth W. Root – president
• Athens County Municipal Court Judge William A. Grim – first vice president
• Euclid Municipal Court Judge Deborah A. LeBarron – second vice president
• Dayton Municipal Court Judge Carl S. Henderson – secretary
• Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Michael T. Brandt – treasurer

Raised in Fairborn and a Fairborn High graduate, Judge Root last month began her second, six-year term on the bench after her re-election in November’s general election. Before serving as a judge, she was a magistrate at the court for 12 years.

“It is an honor to serve my fellow judges,” Judge Root said. “As president of the association, I will continue the association’s tradition of promoting the fair and effective administration of justice, providing quality education, and encouraging the exchange of ideas.”

The educational portion of the winter conference includes sessions devoted to an Intoxilyzer 8000 case law update; the ins and outs of chemical testing; and issues in domestic violence.