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Richard Frye
Richard A. Frye is a judge for the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in Columbus, Ohio. He first joined the court in 2005. Frye was re-elected to a new six-year term on November 8, 2016.[1]
Elections
2016
Ohio held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election took place on March 15, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 16, 2015.
General election
Incumbent Richard Frye defeated Donald Kline in the general election.
| Franklin County Court of Common Pleas (General Division–Frye seat), General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Richard Frye Incumbent |
58.55% | 215,181 |
| Donald Kline | 41.45% | 152,307 |
| Total Votes | 367,488 | |
| Source: Franklin County Board of Elections, "Unofficial Election Results: November 8, 2016," accessed November 9, 2016 | ||
Primary election
Incumbent Richard Frye ran unopposed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division Democratic primary election.
| Franklin County Court of Common Pleas (General Division–Frye seat), Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Richard Frye Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 93,389 |
| Total Votes | 93,389 | |
| Source: Franklin County, Ohio, "2016 Primary Election Official Canvass," April 5, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 391 judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are all selected in an identical manner. Qualified individuals wishing to join the bench must participate in partisan primary elections followed by nonpartisan general elections.[2]
The chief judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are chosen by peer vote and serve for one year.[2]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must be:[2]
- a district or county resident (for court of appeals and common pleas judges);
- at least six years practiced in law; and
- under the age of 70.
Under the Ohio Constitution, a judge who reaches 70 years of age may be assigned by the chief justice to active duty, receiving payment on a per-day basis in addition to whatever retirement benefits he or she is entitled to.
2010
Frye was re-elected after running unopposed.[3]
Columbus Bar Association Judicial Performance Poll
In even numbered years, attorneys in Franklin County evaluate the performance of sitting judges in four categories and overall. Below are Judge Frye's ratings from 2012:
- Objectivity: 3.9
- Judicial temperament: 3.8
- Legal knowledge: 4.4
- Sentencing: 3.7
- Quality of opinions: 4.2
- Overall: 4.0 - Average overall score of judges was 3.8.[4]
Education
Frye received his undergraduate degree in history from Wittenberg University and his J.D. from the Ohio State University.[5]
Career
Prior to becoming a judge, Frye was a partner at the law firm of Chester Willcox & Saxbe, LLP.[5]
Noteworthy events
Judge rules Ohio primary election must be held
Judge Richard Frye ruled on March 16, 2020, that a regularly scheduled Ohio primary election had to be held as planned. The ruling was made in a lawsuit brought by Jill Reardon and former Ohio Department of Aging Director Judith Brachman to delay the primary election due to health concerns surrounding the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Both were concerned that voting in the election would pose a risk to their health.[6]
The same day, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) also recommended delaying the primary until June 2.[7]
“There are too many factors to balance in this uncharted territory to say that we ought to take this away from the legislature and elected statewide officials, and throw it to a common pleas court judge in Columbus 12 hours before the election," Frye said.[8]
See also
- Franklin County, Ohio
- Ohio Courts of Common Pleas
- Judicial selection in Ohio
- Local trial court judicial elections, 2016
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Franklin County Board of Elections, "2016 Primary Certified Candidates List," accessed January 20, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Ohio," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Franklin County Board of Elections, Certified Candidate List, General Election - November 2, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ Columbus Bar Association, 2012 Judicial Performance Poll (dead link)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Columbus Business First, "A Conversation with Richard A. Frye," August 26, 2008
- ↑ WOSU, "Coronavirus In Ohio: Judge Denies Request To Delay Primary Election Until June 2," March 16, 2020
- ↑ CNN, "Ohio Governor calls for primary election to be delayed," March 16, 2020
- ↑ Cleveland, "Judge denies request to delay Ohio primary election until June over coronavirus," March 16, 2020
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
