>Darke County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan P. Hein.

Darke County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan P. Hein.

Darke County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan P. Hein will serve as president of the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association for 2014 after his election Thursday during the group’s annual winter conference.

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor administered the oath of office to Judge Hein and the other judges elected to leadership positions. She also spoke briefly and assisted in handing out seven Golden Gavel awards to retiring judges with at least 10 years of service on the bench.

Judge Hein is halfway through his third term on the common pleas bench, already having served two full six-year terms after his election in 1998 and reelection in 2004 and 2010. Previously, he served as the Darke County prosecutor for six years and as an assistant prosecutor in the office for eight years. He earned his law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1981 and was admitted to the Ohio bar later that year.

“It is an honor to serve my colleagues and to work with all judges in Ohio to improve the judiciary and its duties to the public,” Judge Hein said. “I know the experience will also make me more effective and efficient as I serve the public in Darke County.”

Additional association officers include:

• Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Guy L. Reece II, president-elect
• Licking County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas M. Marcelain, first vice president
• Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge David T. Matia, second vice president
• Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Linda J. Jennings, third vice president
• Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Jody M. Luebbers, fourth vice president
• Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Barbara P. Gorman, secretary
• Wayne County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark K. Wiest, treasurer
• Scioto County Common Pleas Court Judge Howard H. Harcha III, past president.

The Golden Gavel honorees include:

• Madison County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert D. Nichols
• Richland County Common Pleas Court Judge James D. Henson
• Belmont County Common Pleas Court Judge Jennifer L. Sargus
• Harrison County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael J. Nunner
• Athens County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael W. Ward
• Jackson County Common Pleas Court Judge Leonard F. Holzapfel
• Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Judith L. Hunter.

The common pleas judges association’s membership includes all general division judges of the state’s common pleas courts, and its mission is “to improve the law, the legal system and the effective administration of justice.”