Jacob A Estes Bellefontaine Municipal Court

Candidate Details

Residence
West Liberty
Email
estesja.law@gmail.com
Website
estesforjudge.com
Social Media
facebook.com/Jacob4Judge
Age
44
Occupation
Attorney/Partner & Collegiate Instructor
Education
Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio

Juris Doctor (2013)

Cum Laude Dean’s List / Dean’s Excellence Award / Estate Planning Merit Scholarship

University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Social Sciences (2001)

G.P.A. 3.85 Academic Scholarship

Lima Technical College, Lima, Ohio

Associate of Applied Science in Corrections (1999)

English Composition Award / Dean’s List
Work Experience
Bellefontaine Municipal Court, Acting Judge (October 19, 2022)

Conducted Arraignments, a Show Cause Hearing, and Felony Initial Hearings.

MacGillivray & Estes, LLP Attorneys at Law, Bellefontaine, Ohio

Partner (2014 –Present) www.mehlegal.com

Practice areas focused in Criminal, Juvenile, Domestic Relations and Probate Law.
Actively participate in the business operation of the partnership.
Attend hearings; conduct civil, criminal, bench and jury trials; draft motions; perform legal research; negotiate on behalf of clients; interview witnesses and conduct investigations.
Serve as Guardian ad Litem for children and Guardian of wards.
Serve as Vice President of the Logan County Bar Association.
Previous duties included Solicitor for Village of Valley Hi and Village of St. Paris.
Rated as Rising Star by Super Lawyers; received Avvo’s Client’s Choice Award; voted Logan County’s Best Attorney (2020 Logan County Chamber of Commerce); and Logan County Chamber of Commerce Business of the month (January 2021).

The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Lecturer (2014 – Present)

Instruct undergraduate/graduate Social Work courses (Human Trafficking, Cultural Diversity, Social Work & the Law, and Juvenile Delinquency & Correctional Practice in Social Work).
Consult with students and evaluate student performance.

Bluffton University, Bluffton, Ohio

Lecturer (2017)

Instructed undergraduate Criminal Justice course (Interventions in Corrections).
Consulted with students and evaluated student performance.

Urbana University, Urbana, Ohio

Lecturer (2016)

Instructed undergraduate Criminal Justice course (Psychology and Sociology of Criminal Justice).
Consulted with students and evaluated student performance.

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Adult Parole Authority, Logan, Hardin & Allen Counties, Ohio

Parole Officer (2003 – 2014)

Oversaw and directed caseload activities of felony offenders utilizing Evidence Based Practices and conducted comprehensive investigations. Selected to complete background investigations on prospective Parole Officers.
Completed substantial training in areas of substance abuse, sex offending, mental health, and officer safety. Completed courses on Instructional Skills, Interview and Interrogation, and Leadership.
Instructed Parole Officers in Unarmed Self Defense (2011), Quality Basics (2006), Release Preparation (2013), and Drug Abuse Recognition (2006).
Received the Lima Region 2006 Instructor of the Year Award; Lima Region October 2009 Employee of the Month Award.
Routinely called upon to complete problematic assignments and consistently evaluated as above average on employee evaluations.
Selected to be class speaker for the parole school graduating class; conducted community presentations.
Co-facilitated a Thinking For a Change class and formed a Citizen Circle for Logan County, Ohio. Logan County Community Corrections Planning Committee member, Federal Reentry grant member and Health and Fitness Committee member.

Logan County Juvenile Court, Bellefontaine, Ohio

Probation Officer/Diversion Officer (2001- 2003)

Restructured and managed the Diversion program adding program depth and offender accountability.
Reduced expenses by co-implementing, coordinating, and monitoring a "Saturday" community service program.
Conducted pre-sentence and other comprehensive investigations.
Performed as a public relations speaker.
Described by superiors as exceptional, dedicated and a valuable asset.

Talbert House, Cincinnati, Ohio

Clinical Service Provider (2000 – 2001)

Performed case management for chemically dependent clients while coordinating with Probation/Parole, mental health, and substance abuse agencies.
Involved in clinical staffing to determine intake eligibility and disciplinary actions for a ten-bed residential alcohol & drug facility.
Facilitated substance abuse / life skills treatment groups.
Attended multiple training sessions in the area of substance abuse and was a Registered Candidate for achieving Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor.

Allen County Juvenile Detention Center, Lima, Ohio

Youth Leader (1998 – 1999)

Visually monitored and controlled resident’s behavior to maintain the safety and security of the facility, residents, staff and public.
Supervised and directed the activities of the residents in daily programs by observing behaviors, maintaining control, and administering disciplinary sanctions in accordance with policy.
Completed cell searches to control contraband; intervened in disturbances; and completed proper documentation as required.
Received, searched and processed intakes to the facility and processed releases from the facility.
Family
This summer I will celebrate twenty-four years of marriage with my wife, Jennifer. We have three children, Madeline, Grace, & AJ.
Affiliations
Service to others is important to me and my family. For years, we have served in church leadership in various capacities. We have taught adult and children’s Sunday School, facilitated small groups, coached church softball, and led a youth mission trip. Alongside my wife, I participated in Project Smile, a dental mission trip to Belize, Central America. I served at the Luke Commission on a mission trip in Eswatini (S. Africa). I served the Bellefontaine First Church of God as an interim youth pastor and with the help of many, I founded the Logan County Citizen’s Circle. I have coached and sponsored youth sports for over ten years and was recently the legal advisor for the West Liberty Salem High School mock trial team. I am a member of the Logan County Republican Party and Kiwanis. I am the Vice President of the Logan County Children’s Services board and the Logan County Bar Association.
Endorsements
Endorsements

Jacob A Estes

Question 1

List your judicial experience (courts and years)

Bellefontaine Municipal Court, Acting Judge (October 19, 2022)

Conducted Arraignments, a Show Cause Hearing, and Felony Initial Hearings.

Question 2

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

I have prepared for this opportunity my entire life. Every job I have held has served a valuable purpose in preparing me for this judgeship. My professional experience is unique in that I have worked as an officer, service provider, defense attorney, and collegiate instructor. All of this employment directly relates to the position of a Municipal Court Judge. For the past nine years, I have represented hundreds of clients in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court in both criminal and civil cases. I have represented clients in numerous other Municipal Courts around Ohio. This direct, hands-on legal experience in Municipal Courts will serve as my guide to effective leadership on the bench. My years of experience in probation will help me effectively oversee the Court’s probation department. My experience working with local law enforcement and service providers and the relationships I have developed will serve me well as I will seek to unify our community in a concentrated front to combat the issues within our community. I believe my years of experience from multiple perspectives has provided me a balanced approach on how to curb recidivism. My goal will be to help defendants become productive members of the community while holding them accountable for their actions. I look forward to utilizing what I have learned over the last twenty years to help better the community in which I live and raise my family.

Question 3

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

My dream to become Judge began in 2001 when I began employment as a Juvenile Probation Officer with Judge Michael Brady of the Logan County Juvenile Court. It was at that time I knew that becoming a Judge was in my future. I spent the next twenty years preparing myself for this monumental opportunity. My combination of experience as an educator, service provider, officer, and defense attorney has prepared me for success on the bench. I have practiced law in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court for the past nine years representing clients in criminal and civil cases. My regular appearances in this court and others around the state has solidified my desire to run for this court seat. Of utmost importance to me is that I would be serving the community in which I live and raise my family. I am excited about the opportunity to continue making a difference in the lives of others in this new position. In every job I have held, I believe that I was given the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. As Municipal Court Judge, I would be able to continue my career of service to others. As with all things in my life, I am committed to excellence and integrity. And upon election, I will dispense timely justice with those character traits at the forefront. I am following my passion and calling. I am committed to being the best Municipal Court Judge through hard work and dedication to Logan County.