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Jessica  Barwell

Jessica Barwell

For Judge of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division
Full Term Beginning 1/2/2023

Candidate Details

  • Residence
    Columbus
  • Email
    info@jessicabarwell.com
  • Website
    jessicabarwell.com
  • Social Media
    facebook.com/barwellforjudge
  • Age
    37
  • Occupation
    Attorney
  • Education

    Long Island University, B.A.  in Political Science, Minor in Criminal Justice, Pre-Law Concentration, (2008)

    Western Michigan Law School (formerly known as Thomas M. Cooley) (2008-2011)

    Study Abroad: Visiting Student, Penn State Dickinson School of Law, Toronto, Canada; Florence, Italy (Summer 2011)

  • Work Experience

    Wesp Barwell, LLC, Attorney, 2015-present
    Columbus Hospitality, LLC, General Counsel, 2012- present

  • Family
    Married with 2 children
  • Affiliations

    Association of Corporate Counsel (2012-present)

    Columbus Rotary Member (2016-present), Board Member (2021-present)

    Huckleberry House, Board Member (2015-2021)

    United Way, Women's Leadship Council (2014-2019)

    Leadership Columbus Graduate (2015)

    JoAnn Davidson Leadership Graduate, Leadship Columbus Graduate (2021)

  • Endorsements

    Franklin County Republican Party

Photo of Jessica  Barwell Jessica Barwell

Question 1

List your judicial experience (courts and years)

Supreme Court of Ohio, Judicial Extern to Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton (Fall-Winter 2011)


Question 2

What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?

My civil background has prepared me for the often-complex business and commercial cases that I will hear.  In my corporate capacity, I provide oversight of legal issues involving company operations and advise business owners and senior executives to ensure legal compliance and mitigation of risk across their business. I have attained experience in the array of contracts and dispute resolution matters that a general counsel to a large and diverse company can be expected to encounter and have gained a high level of expertise in state and federal employment law. My employment law experience is in my opinion material for a position on the Franklin County Common Pleas bench. That is because my role, and the experience I have gained, is more than pure “lawyering.” Throughout my career I have served as the company’s point person in direct interaction with employee matters, including mediating employment disputes, engaging directly in employee disciplinary matters, and in promoting a work atmosphere of fairness, respect and harmony. I will bring a proper judicial temperament and a quick learning ability to he bench and I will apply the laws and sentencing guidelines with consistency.


Question 3

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I have always had the desire to be in public service and I believe that working in the judicial capacity is the highest form of public service that a lawyer can engage in.