Seventh District Court of Appeals Judge Mary DeGenaro

Seventh District Court of Appeals Judge Mary DeGenaro

Seventh District Court of Appeals Judge Mary DeGenaro today served as a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court. 

Judge DeGenaro replaced Justice Terrence O’Donnell who recused himself from State ex rel. Robert L. Walgate, Jr., et al. v. John R. Kasich et al. (Case No. 2013-0656). The Franklin County case concerns whether several parties claiming they’re adversely affected by gambling have standing to file a lawsuit opposing video lottery terminals and casinos.

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 DeGenaro has served as a visiting judge on the Supreme Court several times, the last coming in March 2009.

“It speaks to the integrity of the judicial branch that there is a mechanism in place for Ohio judges sitting on any bench to recuse themselves from a case, on rare occasions, in order to preserve the public’s confidence in the impartiality of their courts,” Judge DeGenaro said. “This process demonstrates the integrity of the Ohio Supreme Court as an institution and each of the justices individually, and it was a privilege to do my part in this case.”

Judge DeGenaro was elected to the Seventh District in November 2000 and was reelected in 2006 and 2012. Before serving as a judge, she was in private practice for 14 years. Judge DeGenaro received her law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1986.

The Seventh District serves eight counties in eastern Ohio, and hears cases from county, municipal and common pleas courts as well as original actions in habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, procedendo and quo warranto.