T. Michele Lynch

Question 1

List your judicial experience (courts and years)

Berea Municipal Court 2014-2021

Criminal and Civil Magistrate and Acting Judge when Judge Comstock was unavailable. 

Presided over every type of case that the court handled. 

Criminal Magistrate: Responsible for all stages of the hearings, responsible for bond hearings, arraignments, sentencing, trials, and diversion hearings. 

Civil Magistrate: Responsible for pretrials, case management hearings, mediating cases, eviction hearings, small claims and civil trials, responsible for reviewing dispositive motions. 

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Question 2

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

I have the most expansive legal experience with 24 years of civil and criminal litigation experience practicing in over a dozen municipal courts. My experience has included bankruptcy, estate planning and probate along with civil litigation including evictions, small claims, real estate and contract disputes. I am also an experienced criminal defense attorney where I handled misdemeanors and traffic offenses.  My current role as legal counsel for the Chapter 13 Trustee where I practice in federal bankruptcy court has been the result of my dedicated 24 years of professional experience.  Throughout this time, I have diligently cultivated a reputation for fairness, respectfulness and dedication to my work.  Experience is not something that can be rushed.  It requires time and the wisdom gained from years of practice.  In my 24 years of practice I have amassed the valuable combination of both, making me uniquely qualified for judge and any future challenges that may arise. 

During my extensive career, both in private practice and in my current role, I  have had to work with thousands of diverse parties embroiled in conflict. Through this experience, I have honed a  proficiency for employing innovative strategies to amicably resolve highly contentious disputes. I will take this ability to the bench to unite parties and to help adminster justice fairly. 

Furthermore, my unique qualifications of running my own business extend to my experience helping individuals and small businesses restructure their debt.  I am committed to leveraging my business expertise to lower court costs and to ensure fiscal responsibility thereby enabling the court to enhance vital services for our communities' safety.  

 

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

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Question 3

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

My decision to run for Berea Municipal Court Judge was driven by several factors, but paramount was my commitment to effecting positive change.  With an extensive background spanning 24 years, encompassing civil, criminal, and judicial experience, it became evident our legal system required a catalyst for change.  I am at the point in my career and life that I wanted to be that catalyst.  It was time for voters to choose rather than the establishment. There was a need to safeguard the integrity of the legal system by providing voters a choice. 

My goal is to help those that come before the court and to ensure the continued safety of our neighborhoods.  To do so, it has become imperative that the mental health and substance abuse crisis be addressed.  We must enhance services available to defendants by forging partnerships with relevant agencies and educating all stakeholders about the resources at their disposal with the aim of preventing recidivism.  Further, I firmly believe that education is the cornerstone of progress, and given the stage of my career, I am motivated to give back.  My goal is to contribute to the development of a more equitable and efficient legal system that fosters community safety.