Twelfth District Court of Appeals Judge Michael E. Powell

Twelfth District Court of Appeals Judge Michael E. Powell

Twelfth District Court of Appeals Judge Michael E. Powell served as a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court today.

Judge Powell replaced Justice Terrence O’Donnell who recused himself from State of Ohio v. David L. Braden, Case nos. 2017-1579 and 2017-1609. The case is about whether judges can waive court costs for those sentenced prior to a change in state law.

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

This was Judge Powell’s second time sitting on the state’s highest court. He last served as a visiting judge on the Court in May 2014.

“If you’re a judge or a lawyer in Ohio, there is no greater honor than to sit on the state’s highest court,” Judge Powell said. “I was very honored and pleased to be here today.”

Judge Powell was appointed to the appellate bench in October 2012 and was subsequently elected a month later. Prior to serving on the Twelfth District Court of Appeals, Judge Powell served as the Warren County’s Probate and Juvenile Court judge since April 2000, and as a Warren County assistant prosecutor from 1979 until April 2000. He received his law degree from the Ohio Northern College of Law.

The Twelfth District Court of Appeals serves eight counties in southwest Ohio.