The Butler County Bar Association has developed a system of rating the qualifications of those candidates who seek to be elected and/or appointed to a judicial office within the Butler County Court System. The members of the Bar Association are asked to rate each candidate for judicial office by evaluating the candidates' legal abilities, education, experience, temperament, promptness, diligence, honesty and character. 

The Butler County Bar is made up of men and women licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio, and who practice law in all parts of Butler and its neighboring counties. It is the intent of this rating procedure to provide the residents of Butler County with a guide to help them select the best judges possible for the good of all the people in our community. The rating is not considered an endorsement of one political candidate over another, but rather an educated evaluation of the candidates' qualifications as seen by their peers.

For the May primary, there are seven candidates seeking five judicial seats.  Approximately 148 lawyers throughout Butler County participated in the rating of the seven individuals seeking to hold a judicial office.  Additionally, a committee of the Butler County Bar Association was appointed to review background information submitted by the candidates themselves, and to further investigate each candidate to assure that each possessed the qualities necessary to hold such an important office. Lastly, the candidates were given the opportunity to be interviewed by the Judicial Ratings Committee.

After the ratings were received by the membership, the Board of Trustees of the Butler County Bar Association reviewed and approved the ratings for each seeking a judicial office. The ratings for each candidate are as follows:

Candidate	Judicial Position	Rating

"Not Rated" denotes that there was insufficient knowledge or data available to make a determination. 

"Not Recommended" carries no connotation that the candidate is unqualified as a lawyer, nor does it mean that he or she is not qualified for some other judicial post.

To be "Recommended," the candidate must, in the opinion of the committee:

    (a) meet all of the constitutional and statutory requirements for an Ohio judicial office,

    (b) possess that degree of legal ability and experience as will enable him or her to properly adjudicate the cases which come before him or her,

    (c) possess that degree of personal honesty, intellectual integrity and freedom from bias as will enable him or her to fulfill his or her office impartially as to all litigants,

    (d) possess those qualities of temperament, diligence, courtesy and personal habits which will win the respect and confidence of the general public, and

    (e) enjoy a reputation for personal integrity and ability in order to enhance the public’s respect for law and order.   

"Highly Recommended" means that the candidate satisfies the criteria as is listed for "Recommended" to such a high degree of excellence and expertise that he or she deserves this special recommendation to the public.

The Board of Trustees of the Butler County Bar Association, the Judicial Rating committee and the entire membership of our Bar Association hope that this information will be beneficial to the residents of Butler County.  It is our intent to ensure that Butler County achieves the highest level of judicial competence possible, and our hope that the judicial ratings of the candidates will be beneficial in achieving that goal.