Scott Kirschman

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Scott Kirschman

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 2, 2021

Education

Associate

Ohio University, 1985

Law

The Ohio State University, 1988

Personal

Birthplace

Meriden, Conn.

Religion

Episcopalian

Profession

Prosecutor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Scott Kirschman ran for election for judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court Environmental Division in Ohio. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.

Kirschman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Scott Kirschman was born in Meriden, Connecticut. He earned an associate degree from Ohio University in 1985 and a J.D. from Ohio State University in 1988. His professional experience includes working as a senior prosecutor for G. Gary Tyack, Franklin County Prosecutor.

Elections

2021

See also: Municipal elections in Franklin County, Ohio (2021)

General election

General election for Franklin County Municipal Court Environmental Division

Incumbent Stephanie Mingo defeated Scott Kirschman in the general election for Franklin County Municipal Court Environmental Division on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Stephanie Mingo (Nonpartisan)	51.7	92,144
		Scott Kirschman (Nonpartisan)	48.3	86,158

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 178,302
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Kirschman's endorsements in the 2021 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Scott Kirschman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kirschman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hello, my name is Scott Kirschman and I am running to be Franklin County's next Environmental Court Judge. We are all stakeholders in a good home base--whether abandoned buildings or animal abuse, the Environmental Court docket affects the quality of life for all residents.

I have 26 years experience in the courtroom, often working directly with parents who have lost a child to gun violence. That engagement and that sense of fairness would apply to judicial service.

I'm inspired by the words of Jane Jacobs: "Lively sidewalks have positive aspects for city children's play too, and these are at least as important as safety and protection."

We are in exciting times. You can call it a turning tide or a reckoning or just the recognition that we are all in this together.

My name is Scott Kirschman and I would appreciate your vote on November 2 for judge of the Franklin County Environmental Court.

www.kirschmanforjudge.com

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Community. Service. That's my campaign's focus. I believe voters would like to see elected officials authentically engaging with the community.
• Experience is important. I was recruited to run by a defense attorney, who expressed the need to have judges with courtroom experience and real world perspective.
• The Environmental Court docket affects the quality of life for all residents. My engagement, creativity, and enthusiasm would serve the office.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Everyone wants safety and protection for their home. As a blend of civil and criminal cases, the Environmental Court docket addresses those concerns. As the judge, you get the sole blame or the sole credit. I believe that focus applies to all neighborhoods in Franklin County.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is the perfect example of the power of the criminal justice system. Truth is more than a mob majority. Truth is a goal, a process.

What legacy would you like to leave?

As a criminal prosecutor, my focus has always been on the victim. Punishment of the defendant is not a priority; my goal has been to help the victim on the road to healing. One of my first cases involved a nine-year-old child who was sexually violated while sleeping over at a friend's house. After the juvenile offender was adjudicated delinquent and as I was walking out of the courtroom, she loudly said and pointed at me, "That's MY prosecutor." Her mother gave me a photo, and it still hangs in my office 23 years later.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a page at the Huron Public Library, in Huron, Ohio, a small town near Cedar Point. After school I would return books to the assigned shelves following the the Dewey decimal system. I love to read (I recommend "A Prayer for Owen Meaney" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "When Breath Becomes Air") so it was an easy fit. I made friends with almost everyone in our town of 8,000 people, and only deepened my love of reading.

I held this job through all four years of high school. I still visit when I go home.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash is pretty-much on a permanent rotation.

Or "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

I believe empathy is the most important quality for a judge. When I meet the families of murder victims, I always say to them, "I can't imagine how you feel." And then over the course of the case, I make every effort to understand their loss.

As a judge, you must go beyond the paperwork to find the humanity of all involved. We all survive due to collected effort, and empathy is the bond.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I believe my experience, engagement, and empathy would readily apply to the court's focus. As the only Environmental Court Judge in Ohio, you receive either all the credit or all the blame. My demonstrated and documented commitment to justice would serve the community in the best way possible.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

In government, yes. In politics, no.

A judge should avoid impropriety, in addition to the appearance of impropriety.

Experience in the courtroom is essential.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2021 Elections

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External links

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Candidate

Franklin County Municipal Court Environmental Division

Website

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Footnotes

Ohio courts

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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