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James T. Walther

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James T. Walther
Lorain County Court of Common Pleas
Tenure
Present officeholder
Education
Bachelor's
Cleveland State University, 1984
Law
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1987


James T. Walther is the judge for the Lorain County Probate Court in Elyria, Ohio. He was first elected to the court in November 2008.[1] Walther was re-elected to the Lorain County Probate Court in 2014, winning a term that expired on February 8, 2021.[2][3]

Elections

2014

See also: Ohio judicial elections, 2014
Walther ran for re-election to the Lorain County Probate Court.
General: He was unopposed in the general election on November 4, 2014. [3][4] 

2008

On March 4, 2008, Walther won the three-way Democratic primary for the judgeship of retiring Judge Frank J. Horvath.[5] He was unopposed in the 2008 general election and elected to the Lorain County Probate Court on November 4, 2008.[6]

Education

Walther graduated from Brookside High School in Sheffield Village, Ohio in 1978. He received his A.A. from the Lorain County Community College in 1981, his B.B.A. in economics in 1984 from Cleveland State University and his J.D. in 1987 from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.[7]

Career

After graduating from law school, Walther served as the staff attorney for Judge Edward M. Zaleski of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, for 11 years. In 2000, he went into private practice, specializing in personal injury, probate and sexual harassment law. He also served as an acting judge for judges Gus Nunez, Mark J. Mihok and Thomas J. Elwell Jr. of the Lorain Municipal Court from 2001 to 2004. In November 2004, Walther joined the Lorain Law Department as an assistant law director/prosecutor.[7] In January 2007, Walther was admitted to practice before for the Supreme Court of the United States. He was sworn into the bar by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.[8]

Judicial career

Walther was originally elected as a judge of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division.[9] He took office on February 9, 2009. In July 2009, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation changing Walther's jurisdiction from domestic relations, juvenile and probate to probate only.[10] It was a change that Walther supported. Walther became the sole probate judge for the Lorain County Probate Court on September 29, 2009.[11]

In December 2010, the ten judges of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas unanimously elected Walther to serve as presiding judge of the court for 2011. He was re-elected to that position for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.[12]

Judge Walther was instrumental in establishing the Lorain County Sewage Treatment System Appeals Board in December, 2010. The Appeals Board allows homeowners an easier and less expensive method to appeal decisions of the county Health Department concerning home sewage systems.[13]

In October 2009, Judge Walther was granted exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of all criminal non-support of dependent cases in Lorain County prosecuted under Ohio Revised Code §2919.21.[14]

Judge Walther was given the PRIDE Award by the Lorain County Children Services in August 2010 for his "excitement, compassion and understanding" of children's issues in adoptions that he has presided over."[15] On June 8, 2011, Judge Walther was presented the Meritorious Service Award by the Ohio Association of Probate Judges in Columbus, Ohio.[16] Judge Walther is a frequent presenter around the state of Ohio on probate, guardianship and elder law issues.[17]

In December, 2011, Judge Walther approved the use of $55,400 in funds from the sale of the Green Acres Children's Home to be used to fund the OSU Extension office in Lorain County.[18] The OSU Extension office is necessary for the continuation of 4-H programs in Lorain County. Judge Walther found that the appropriation of the funds for the OSU Extension office would directly benefit children, which is a requirement for usage of the Green Acres funds.[19] In December 2012, Judge Walther approved the use of $60,119.60 of the Green Acres Trust Fund for funding the position in 2013.[20][21] In January, 2013, Walther further ordered that $5,000 of the Green Acres Trust Fund be used to support the County's Kinship Caregiver Program.[22]

In January, 2012, Judge Walther was selected to serve on a hearing panel of Ohio trial court judges to determine election complaints filed against any Ohio Supreme Court justice.[23] Judges are selected based upon legal and judicial experience, gender, race, ethnicity and other relevant factors under the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary of Ohio.[24] Since April, 2012, Judge Walther has annually taught the New Judges Orientation II seminar presented by the Ohio Judicial College. Specifically, he lectures on probate law and procedures to Ohio's newest probate judges.[25]

Judge Walther serves on a sub-committee of the Supreme Court of Ohio's Advisory Committee on Case Management on probate matters.[26] The subcommittee recommends case processing time standards for probate cases. Judge Walther also serves on the Subcommittee on Adult Guardianship through The Supreme Court of Ohio's Advisory Committee on Children and Families.[27] He also serves on two committees of the Subcommittee on Adult Guardianship, the Rules Committee and the Curriculum Committee. The Rules Committee proposed the new Rule 66 of the Ohio Rules of Superintendence, which was implemented on June 1, 2015. The Curriculum Committee wrote the curriculum for the new Rule 66 and was scheduled for rollout on May 14 and 15 in 2015 at the Ohio Judicial Center in Columbus, Ohio.[28]

Appointments

Judge Walther is statutorily responsible for making appointments to the boards of the Lorain Foundation, Lorain County Law Library Resources Board, Lorain County Metro Parks, Lorain County Metropolitan Housing Authority, Lorain County Board of Developmental Disabilities and the Lorain County Sewage Treatment Systems Appeals Board.[29][30][31][32][33][34] As the probate judge, he is also responsible for approving the appointments of agents to the humane society for Lorain County.[35]

Volunteer Guardianship Program of Lorain County

In February 2010, Judge Walther instituted a special project fund of the probate court to independently fund the Volunteer Guardianship Program of Lorain County.[36] The mission of the Volunteer Guardianship Program is to enhance the quality of life of indigent, incompetent, older adults in Lorain County by providing trained, qualified volunteers to become legal guardians and serve as concerned, caring advocates and surrogate decision-makers when a less restrictive alternative (to guardianship) is not available.[37]

Lorain County Elder Abuse Network

Since becoming the probate judge, Judge Walther has been deeply involved with elder law and guardianship law issues in Lorain County, including the Lorain County Elder Abuse Network (LCEAN). The purpose of LCEAN is to create awareness of elder abuse issues and to improve the delivery of services for vulnerable older adults. The Network has created an I-Team (Interdisciplinary Team) that meets monthly to consult on difficult cases. About 35 people have attended meetings, representing social service and mental health agencies; health departments; law enforcement; probate court; MR/DD; assisted living facilities; senior centers; elder law and guardianship attorneys; Legal Aid; and others who serve older adults.[38]

In August 2011, Judge Walther participated in the Ohio Summit on Aging in Columbus, Ohio. In conjunction with the summit, Judge Walther also attended the Enhancing Judicial Skills in Elder Abuse Cases Workshop.[39] The two-day workshop was presented by the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence. Formed in 1998, the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence is a dynamic partnership among the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, Futures Without Violence (formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund) and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. The NJIDV has provided highly interactive, skills-based domestic violence workshops for judges and judicial officers nationwide since 1999.[40]

Lorain County Veterans Treatment Court

In February 2013, Judge Walther announced the formation of a pilot project called the Lorain County Veterans Treatment Court.[41] A Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) is a hybrid drug and mental health court that serves veterans who are struggling with addiction and/or mental illness by diverting them from the traditional criminal justice system into a specialized veterans court. The Veterans Treatment Court model requires regular court appearances (a bi-weekly minimum in the early phases of the program), as well as mandatory attendance at treatment sessions and frequent and random testing for substance use (drug and/or alcohol).[42]

The Lorain County VTC became operational on January 6, 2014.[43] The Lorain County Veterans Treatment Court received final certification as a specialized docket from The Supreme Court of Ohio on November 16, 2014.[44] The Lorain County VTC was awarded an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for 2015. The grant is from the U.S. Department of Justice and awarded through the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services.[45]

Eminent domain

The Lorain County Probate Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas to hear eminent domain or appropriation of land cases in Lorain County.[46] Judge Walther has adjudicated approximately 30-40 eminent domain cases in Lorain County, including the land appropriations for the new Nagel Road/I-90 interchange in Avon, Ohio.[47]

Judicial appointments

  • Probate Time Guidelines and Statistical Reporting Subcommittee of the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Advisory Committee on Case Management.[48]
  • Supreme Court of Ohio's Commission on Technology and the Courts.[49]
  • Subcommittee on Adult Guardianship of the Supreme Court of Ohio's Advisory Committee on Children and Families
    • Rules Committee.[50]
    • Curriculum Committee.[51]

Judicial memberships

Community involvement

  • Boy Scouts of America
    • Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 409, Vermilion, Ohio
    • Past District Chairman, Great Frontier District
    • Membership Chairman, Great Frontier District
  • Trinity Evangelical Free Church, Amherst, Ohio
    • Member
  • Lorain County Port Authority
    • Member 1/1/2005-2/1/2009
  • Lorain County Historical Society
    • Member
  • Lorain Youth Baseball, Lorain, Ohio[7]

See also

External links


Footnotes

  1. ↑ Lorain County Board of Elections, "General Election Official Results," November 4, 2008
  2. ↑ Judicial selection in Ohio
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lorain County Board of Elections, "May 6, 2014 Primary Election, Candidate List," accessed March 6, 2014
  4. ↑ Chronicle Telegram, "Primary contests made clear," February 6, 2014
  5. ↑ Chronicle Telegram, "James Walther wins judge primary," March 5, 2008,
  6. ↑ Lorain County, OH, General Election Results, November 4, 2008
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Loraincounty.com, "Biography"
  8. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States bar admission certificate, dated January 21, 2007.
  9. ↑ The Morning Journal, "Jim Walther sworn in as new judge," February 9, 2009
  10. ↑ 128th General Assembly, "File No. 9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 7/17/2009"
  11. ↑ Chronicle Telegram, "Family Court ends, but debate goes on," September 29, 2009
  12. ↑ Various journal entries from the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas, Lorain County, Ohio.
  13. ↑ Chronicle Telegram, "Sewer appeals made simpler with new board," December 18, 2010
  14. ↑ Various Journal Entries from the docket of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas, Lorain County, Ohio.
  15. ↑ LCCS letter, August 12, 2010
  16. ↑ OAPJ Meritorious Service Award, June 8, 2011
  17. ↑ Bio of Judge James T. Walther
  18. ↑ Chronicle Telegram, "Judge orders funds 4-H, OSU extension," December 21, 2011
  19. ↑ The Morning Journal, "Everything coming up green for 4-H programs," December 22, 2011
  20. ↑ The Morning Journal, "Unexpected windfall will help county 4-H," January 18, 2013
  21. ↑ Journal Entry of the Lorain County Probate Court, CASE NO.: 2010PC00020, Lorain County, Ohio.
  22. ↑ The Morning Journal, "County's Kinship Caregiver program receives $5,000," January 17, 2013
  23. ↑ The Daily Jeffersonian, "Judge Ellwood chairing panel," February 20, 2012
  24. ↑ Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary of Ohio
  25. ↑ The Supreme Court of Ohio & The Ohio Judicial System, "New Judge Orientation Part II"
  26. ↑ Roster of Probate Advisory Sub-Committee on Case Management
  27. ↑ Roster of Subcommittee on Adult Guardianship.
  28. ↑ Email from M. Christy Tull, Interim Director and Manager of Curriculum Development, The Supreme Court of Ohio
  29. ↑ Ohio Revised Code §307.511(A)(3)
  30. ↑ Ohio Revised Code §1545.05
  31. ↑ Ohio Revised Code §3735.27
  32. ↑ Ohio Revised Code §5126.021
  33. ↑ Journal Entries of the Lorain County Probate Court, Lorain County, Ohio.
  34. ↑ Ohio Revised Code §3718.11
  35. ↑ Ohio Revised Code §1717.06
  36. ↑ Volunteer Guardianship Program of Lorain County Special Project Fund, Journal Entry, Case No. 2010MS00009, Lorain County Probate Court, Lorain County, Ohio.
  37. ↑ Luthern Metro.org: Volunteer Guardianship Program of Lorain County
  38. ↑ Lorain County ODJFS/Lorain County Elder Abuse Network
  39. ↑ Enhancing Judicial Skills in Elder Abuse Cases Workshop
  40. ↑ National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence
  41. ↑ Morning Journal, "Lorain County Probate Court to help veterans," February 12, 2013
  42. ↑ Justice for Vets, "What is a Veterans Treatment Court," accessed February 12, 2015
  43. ↑ Veterans Service Agency, "Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court," accessed February 12, 2015
  44. ↑ Specialized Docket Certification, Commission on Specialized Dockets, The Supreme Court of Ohio.
  45. ↑ Bureau of Justice Assistance, "Office of Justice Programs," accessed February 12, 2015
  46. ↑ Ohio Revised Code Section 163.01(D)
  47. ↑ Chronicle Telegram, "Property owners challenge plan to charge them for interchange," April 18, 2011
  48. ↑ Letter from Judge Laura Gallagher, Cuyahoga County Probate Court.
  49. ↑ Letter from Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, February 11, 2013.
  50. ↑ Letter from Judge Kenneth Spicer, OAPJ President.
  51. ↑ Letter from Judge Kathleen Giesler, OAPJ President.
  52. ↑ OAPJ Executive Board meeting, dated June, 2012.

Ohio courts

Federal courts:

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio

State courts:

Ohio Supreme Court • Ohio District Courts of Appeal • Ohio Courts of Common Pleas • Ohio County Courts • Ohio Municipal Courts • Ohio Court of Claims

State resources:

Courts in Ohio • Ohio judicial elections • Judicial selection in Ohio


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