Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor (file photo)

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor (file photo)

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor welcomed 26 new judges in a live webinar conducted by the Court’s Judicial College, addressing a range of issues led by the coronavirus pandemic.

Using remote technology, Chief Justice O’Connor offered guidance to the judges and applauded them for finding ways to keep their courts open.

“The courts in Ohio are dealing with unstable times, there’s no question about that,” Chief Justice O’Connor said. “But our response to this crisis and the instability is innovation. The innovation is being created on a foundation of court stability.”

Chief Justice O’Connor mentioned specifics, such as:

• Tolling deadlines in local courts
• Curtailing court hours
• Continuing cases
• Use of virtual hearings.

Massillon Municipal Court Judge Joel C. Fichter said the four-day seminar helped him tremendously, from his transition as a magistrate to judge.

“Everything with the webinar ran smoothly,” Judge Fichter said. “The information presented during the webinar will help me in my new position with the court.

“The biggest difference in my duties is that, as a magistrate, I used to deal with the beginning phase of criminal and traffic cases.  Now, as a judge, I’m dealing with the conclusion of the cases and I get to see the final results.  Hopefully, I can help make a positive impact in the lives of some of the defendants who appear in our court.”

The new judges also focused on the importance of mentoring. Each new judge is paired with an experienced judge to help navigate their new role.

Mentorships supplement the live webinar orientation with subjects including judicial ethics, media relations, and case management.