A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former Ohio House member will take the bench on March 23 after his appointment today by Gov. John Kasich to the Bedford Municipal Court.

Jeffrey L. Dean of Chagrin Falls must win in the November 2015 general election to retain the seat for the full term commencing Jan. 1, 2016. Dean replaces retired Judge Harry J. Jacob III.

Dean received his bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and his law degree from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio on Nov. 7, 1980.

Dean’s previous experience includes serving as the executive director and general counsel of the International Engineering Society and Education Foundation and executive director of the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce and Education Foundation. He is currently an attorney and counselor at law in private practice.

He was a member of the 114th General Assembly and the State Board of Education. He is president of the Board of Trustees for the Valley Art Center.