Keith McGrath For Judge of the Tenth District Court of Appeals

Candidate Details

Residence
Columbus
Email
mcgrathforjudge2022@gmail.com
Website
mcgrathforjudge2022.com
Social Media
facebook.com/mcgrathforjudge2022
Age
56
Occupation
Judge, Tenth District Court of Appeals
Education
Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States May 22, 2000.

Admitted to the Federal Bar for the Southern District of Ohio January 7, 1993.

Admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio November 9, 1992.

The Ohio State University College of Law, Juris Doctor conferred May 10, 1992.

Columbus Bar Association’s Homeless Project; Income Tax Assistance Program; Street Law Program; Student Bar Association Security Escort Service. Moot Court Advisor; Placement Committee; Advisor for First Year Law Students.

Marshall University, Bachelor of Arts conferred May 13,1989.

Major in Political Science. Minors in Mathmatics, Chemistry and Business Management.

Wind Symphony; Big Green Marching Machine Marching Band; Pep Band; Jazz Ensemble.

Attended the United State Coast Guard Academy 1984 - 1987.

Honorable discharge April 10,1987.

Wrestling Team, Windjammers Drum and Bugle Corps.
Work Experience
Tenth District Court of Appeals: Judge; Columbus, Ohio.

April 2022 – Present

Hear appeals from all divisions of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas (General, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate), the Franklin County Municipal Court, the Ohio Court of Claims, and numerous state agencies. The Tenth District also has original jurisdiction over the extraordinary writs of Mandamus, Habeas Corpus, Procedendo, Prohibition and Quo Warranto. Review briefs and associated case law, hear oral arguments, and publish decisions.

Franklin County Prosecutor: Senior Assistant County Prosecutor; Columbus, Ohio.

November 2002 – April 2020

July 1997 – September 1998

Felony trial staff. Conducted jury trials, court trials and hearings. Responsibilities included all aspects of case management, trial preparation and negotiated pleas or trials. Carried a complex caseload, and have successfully prosecuted, some of the most serious offenses in Franklin County including Murders, Homicides, and a variety of F1 and F2 crimes.

Senior Assistant. Floor Leader. Participated in Homicide reviews. Conducted In-House training. Participated in Group Leader meetings affecting personnel / policy issues.

Member of Vehicular Crimes Unit. Six-person unit on call 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. Called to scene of vehicular fatalities by law enforcement. Responsible for all aspects of case from reviewing the scene through the conclusion of case. Assigned felony operating a motor vehicle under the influence cases.

Responsible for Foreign / Out-of-State subpoena requests. Assisted District Attorneys and Prosecutor offices throughout the country in serving subpoenas on individuals and companies residing or located in Franklin County.

2012; 2018; 2021. Special Prosecutor for Clark, Montgomery and Muskingum Counties.

2011 Recipient of the “Award of Excellence” given out by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) to the Most Outstanding Prosecutor in Central Ohio.

2010 DRE (Drug Recognition Expert) Task Force. Representative for the Ohio Prosecuting Attorney’s Association.

As a member of the grand jury unit, evaluated felony investigations, and determined appropriate felony charges. Prepared and presented cases to grand jury.

As a senior attorney in the juvenile unit, reviewed, evaluated and prosecuted Abuse / Neglect / Dependency cases. Conducted court trials, hearings and negotiated pleas for juveniles.

Contract Attorney; Washington D.C.

November 1998 – August 2002

Research and preparation of discovery and briefs on civil topics for several law firms.

Securities Defense group at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering.

May 1999 – August 2002

Assisted on and reviewed briefs that were filed in the United States Sureme Court. Assisted associates with research and citation review for investment advisor treatise published by Mathew Bender. Involved in representing clients in complex litigation against the Securities and Exchange Commission and various U.S. Attorney’s offices.

Columbus City Attorney, Prosecutor Division: Assistant City Prosecutor; Columbus, Ohio.

June 1993 – July 1997

Conducted jury trials, court trials and hearings. Managed high volume docket in Municipal Court.

Special responsibilities:

               Served as mock trial instructor for OSHP Academy laser/ speed courses;

               Managed civil nuisance abatement docket in Common Pleas Court; Including closing down crack houses in conjunction with neighborhood associations and Columbus Police Department Narcotics Division.

Trained new prosecutors; Trained staff/law students in the Night Prosecutor’s Program;

Served on municipal court committees regarding ramifications of modified misdemeanor and new felony OVI laws.

Columbus State Community College, Law Enforcement Program: Adjunct Professor; Columbus, Ohio.

January 1995 – May 1995

Planned, prepared and delivered lectures for course titled Introduction to Criminal Procedure. Responsible for assignments, preparing exams, and grading.

Columbus City Attorney, Prosecutor Division: Intern; Columbus, Ohio.

July 1992 – June 1993

Represented the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in license suspension hearings. Researched and responded to a variety of motions.

Columbus City Attorney, Prosecutor Division: Night Court Traffic Arraignment Prosecutor; Night Prosecutor Director; Mediation Hearing Officer; Intake Officer; Columbus, Ohio.

Fall 1990 – July 1992

Night Court Traffic Arraignment Prosecutor: With intern’s certificate, represented the City of Columbus as a prosecutor in night traffic court.

Night Prosecutor Director: Determined an appropriate course of action that often involved criminal charges. Supervised Mediation Hearing Officers and Intake Officers.

Mediation Hearing Officer: attempted to resolve disputes through alternative dispute resolution.

Intake Officer: interviewed victims of crime to determine an appropriate course of action that may involve criminal charges.

Columbus Legal Aid Society, Domestic Relations Unit: Intern; Columbus, Ohio.

Summer 1991 – Summer 1992

With intern’s certificate: represented individuals requesting dissolutions in Domestic Court; represented individuals in obtaining emergency Civil Protection Orders through the Domestic Court; researched and wrote memoranda.

MILITARY SERVICE
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

1984-1987 - United States Coast Guard Academy: Cadet; New London, Connecticut.

Honorable Discharge April 10, 1987

Active Duty:

Served in Grenada while aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas;

Participated in drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean while aboard the USCGC DALLAS;

Served on America’s only actively commissioned sailing vessel, The Coast Guard Barque EAGLE; Participated in the Centennial Celebration of the Statue of Liberty (The Parade of Tall Ships) while aboard the EAGLE.

Honors:

Unit Commendation Medal with Silver “O” Device: commendation for “extremely meritorious service in support of Coast Guard operations compared to similar units”;

Two-time Silver Star of Commandants Cadet’s list: Recognized by peers and superiors for military excellence.
Family
Divorced with two children
Affiliations
Mentor: The Supreme Court of Ohio Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program.

Instructor: Law Enforcement classes in ARIDE (Advanced Roadside impaired Driibving Enforrcement) and DICE (Driving Impaired Criminla Enforcement).

Member: Charity Newsies; Columbus, Ohio.

Volunteer organization that promotes education by providing new school clothes for more than 12,000 Franklin County children per year.

Instructor: OPOTA (Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy).

Accident Reconstruction, OVI law, Trial preparation.

Coach: Pee Wee Division, Whetstone Soccer League, Columbus, Ohio

Volunteer: Victorian Village Society’s Annual Home Tour.

Coach: Women’s Recreational Soccer Team; Washington, D.C.

Judge: University of Maryland Regional Trial Competition.

Instructor: The Columbus Bar Association Homeless Project; Columbus Ohio.

Instructor: The Ohio Center for Law Related Education; Columbus, Ohio.

Instructor: Martin Essex School for the Gifted Mock Trial; Columbus, Ohio.

Judge: Michael F. Colley Trial Competition, The OSU College of Law; Columbus, Ohio.

Judge: The OSU College of Law Herman Moot Court Competition; Columbus, Ohio
Endorsements
Columbus Fire Fighters Union Local 67. Fire Fighters Union

Fraternal Order of the Police (FOP) Capital City Lodge #9. Fraternal Order of Police

Keith McGrath

Question 1

List your judicial experience (courts and years)

I am currently a Judge on the Tenth District Court of Appeals. (INCUMBENT).

I was appointed to this position in April of 2022. Tenth District Court of Appeals

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

I am currently a Judge on the Tenth District Court of Appeals.

I was appointed to this position in April of 2022.

Question 2

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

My military experience has taught me the importance of leadership, maintaining structure and hard work. My experience as an attorney has enforced the importance of following the rule of law, obtaining justice, and applying the law fairly to all persons. As a prosecutor, my job was to apply the facts to the law. There were a number of situations where I decided that a suspect would not be charged. While the public may never see that side of the prosecutor's office, it is very important that we, as prosecutors, follow the rules of law and apply them fairly and equally to all persons. I apply those same skills to the cases I hear as a Judge. My extensive litigation experience has provided me the opportunity to teach other lawyers through continuning legal education classes, advise other prosecutors on a variety of subjects, and instruct law enforcement. I have traveled to counties outside of Franklin county, at the request of elected officials to handle special prosecutions within that other county. I have more trial experience that any other Tenth District Court of Appeals candidate. As a judge on the Court of Appeals, my job is to review the decisions of trial judges and the lower courts. As I have participated in making arguments in the lower courts, and in conducting numerous court and jury trials, I have the actual knowledge of what happens in those lower courts and believe that I am in the best position to review their decisions.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

My military experience has taught me the importance of leadership, maintaining structure and hard work. My experience as an attorney has enforced the importance of following the rule of law, obtaining justice, and applying the law fairly to all persons. As a prosecutor, my job was to apply the facts to the law. There were a number of situations where I decided that a suspect would not be charged. While the public may never see that side of the prosecutor's office, it is very important that we, as prosecutors, follow the rules of law and apply them fairly and equally to all persons. I apply those same skills to the cases I hear as a Judge. My extensive litigation experience has provided me the opportunity to teach other lawyers through continuning legal education classes, advise other prosecutors on a variety of subjects, and instruct law enforcement. I have traveled to counties outside of Franklin County, at the request of elected officials to handle special prosecutions within that other county. I have more trial experience that any other Tenth District Court of Appeals candidate. As a judge on the Court of Appeals, my job is to review the decisions of trial judges and the lower courts. As I have participated in making arguments in the lower courts, and in conducting numerous trials, I have the actual knowledge of what happens in the lower courts and believe that I am in the best position to review their decisions.

Question 3

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I chose to go to law school, with the goal of entering the courtroom and helping to resolve disputes in a fair, efficient, and effective manner. As a prosecutor, I confronted some of the worst elements of our society, while prosecuting murders, rapes, and other serious felonies. I've worked to ensure that the voices of the victims were properly heard, and that appropriate justice was served. Working with such a wide variety of individuals throughout the past 29 years has taught me how important it is for the courts to protect the rights of all parties, pursuant to State Law and the State and Federal Constitutions. The Court of Appeals allows me to reach a broader range of cases and to set precedent to help protect and further those foundational ideals. Both my professional career and my personal endeavors have been about serving, protecting, and aiding my fellow Franklin County residents. I hope to continue that pursuit by retaining my seat as a 10th District Court of Appeals Judge.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers