Judy A. Gano

Question 1

List your judicial experience (courts and years)

I was the Magistrate for Judge John W. Rudduck in the Clinton County Municipal Court from September 1997 through December 2000.  I was also the Magistrate for Judge Nancy Hammond in the Fayette County Probate/Juvenile Court from January 2001 through December 2001 and again from August 2005 through December 2005.

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Question 2

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

In my thirty-five plus years of practicing law, I have handled thousands of civil cases and approximately two hundred criminal defense cases.  I worked as the Chief Prosecutor for the City of Wilmington from February 1986 until January 1992.  After moving outside of Wilmington's jurisdiction, I was an Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Wilmington from January 2000 through December 2000.  I was appointed as the Prosecutor for the Village of Blanchester from February 1986 to February 1996.  During that ten-year period, I prosecuted all of Blanchester's cases in its Mayor's Court and its cases in the Clinton County Municipal Court.

Furthermore, the Judge of the Clinton County Municipal Court does more than just hear court cases.  The Judge is basically a CEO of a large company.  This Court collected approximately 1.08 million dollars in 2022 through criminal and trafic fines, court costs and collections through civil and small claims cases.  It has numerous employees.  I believe that I am the only candidate running who has experience owning and operating a successful business.  In my thirty-five plus years of operating a law practice I have dealt with numerous personnel issues and budgeting issues.  I have developed skills in time management, creating budgets and supervisiong employees which will be very useful in preforming the administrative duties associated with the position of Judge.

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Question 3

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I have over thirty-five years of legal experience.  Most of that experience has been gained by working in municipal courts.  As of March 28, 2023, I am the only candidate who has actually sat on the bench in this Court and heard cases.  As the Magistrate, I got to know firsthand how important it is to people who come before the court to know that they are being treated with respect and fairness and given equal justice under the law.  Our entire judicial system works because people believe that the judge hearing their case keeps those ideals paramount when making a decision in the case.  I fear that our society as a whole is eroding those values and thus people are losing faith that we do have a legal system where everyone regardless of the color of their skin or the size of their bank account is given equal justice under the law.  I am a strong believer that we should give back to our community and use whatever talents God gave us to help make it a better place to live.  My talents and experiences are in the legal field.  I know that if I am elected as the Judge for the Clinton County Municipal Court, I will do my part in insuring that everyone who comes before the Court will be given equal justice under the law.  By doing this, I will be giving back to my community in the best way that I know how to do.