W. Tom Edwards Marion County Court of Common Pleas General Division

Candidate Details

Residence
Caledonia
Email
edwardsforjudge@gmail.com
Website
edwardsforjudge.com
Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/edwardsforjudge
Age
51
Occupation
Judge of the Marion Common Pleas General Division
Education
Judge W. Tom Edwards was raised in Marion and is a graduate of Marion Harding High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Capital University and his law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law.
Work Experience
Tom Edwards began his legal career as a law clerk with the civil firm of Decker, Vonau, Sybert Lackey & Viets Co., L.P.A. whose practice focused on legal issues surrounding construction and land contracts, personal injury, wills and estates.

Upon receiving his law license in 2001, Edwards joined the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office, where for almost two decades he successfully prosecuted thousands of felony crimes, including dozens of murders. Several cases he handled garnered national media coverage, including the prosecution of Columbus SWAT officer Steve Smith’s killer, and the prosecution of Michael Slager for both the arson of Judy Malinowski and three years later for her murder from that arson; a case that made Ohio legal history by being the first to preserve a murder victim’s testimony via deposition for trial and ultimately resulted in the passage of “Judy’s Law”, and is memorialized in the Emmy Award winning documentary “The Fire That Took Her” which is currently available on Paramount Plus.

Since being elected Marion Common Pleas Court Judge, and taking office in January 2019, Judge Edwards has served as the Administrative Judge. In that role, Judge Edwards has brought the Marion County Courthouse into compliance with Ohio Supreme Court security guidelines by requiring all visitors to the courthouse to pass through a metal detector for the first time in Marion’s history, as well as implementing numerous other security procedures. Judge Edwards has also used the role of Administrative Judge to ensure that those facing or being held on felony charges are no longer released due to jail overcrowding by revoking a 1999 order, thereby ending the “revolving door” to Marion’s justice system. As Administrative Judge, he has also re-written the Local Rules of Court, appointed defense counsel for arraignment hearings to protect accused rights, adopted fax and e-filing, and brought many other updates to the Court. Judge Edwards also has a passion for the history of Marion’s Courthouse and has opened preserved portions of it to public view while refurbishing other long neglected areas. Additionally, Judge Edwards has aggressively pursued grant funding and has secured more than $5.43 MILLION in total grant funds for the Marion Court system.

Judge Edwards also runs the Common Pleas Court’s “Drug Court” and "Re-Entry" programs which help those who deal with addiction issues overcome their drug abuse and lead productive, law-abiding lives, especially after a period of incarceration.
Family
Judge Edwards lives in Marion County with his wife, Kelesta, a River Valley graduate, to whom he has been married for over 30 years. They have two adult children, who also both graduated from River Valley, and who are teachers and coaches in Marion area schools.
Affiliations
Judge Edwards is very active in the Marion Community, year in and year out, not just in election years. Judge Edwards is a frequent sponsor of youth sports at Marion's various school systems, the Marion County Fair and Junior Fair Livestock Auction, and the Open Hearts Livestock Show.

During his term, Judge Edwards sponsored or donated to numerous fundraising events for organizations and worthy causes in our community including: Pleasant Athletic Boosters, River Valley Athletic Boosters, River Valley Football and Wrestling, Voices of Hope, Safety City, Kidney Dialysis in Marion, Marion K9 Project, the Starfish Gala - Banquet & Auction supporting FTC Marion, Ohio, the Royal Family Kids Camps for abused, neglected, and disadvantaged kids, the Prospect Lions Club - Prospect, OH annual NASCAR Dinner & Auction, the Marion Palace Theatre, the annual Ridgedale Lions Club Fundraiser Daytona 500 dinner and auction, and many more.

The Edwards are members of St. John Lutheran Church (Windfall) where they were married more than 30 years ago and both their children were baptized. They are also members of the Marion County Historical Society and the Marion Palace Theatre Cultural Arts Association.

Judge Edwards is a founding member of the Marion Ohio Lions Club, and a member of the Marion Gyros. He is a member of the Marion County Bar Association as well as the Ohio Judicial Conference, and served a 4 year term on the Ohio Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Court Security.
Endorsements
Marion International Association of FireFighters Local 379

and

Communication Workers of America Local 4324

W. Tom Edwards

Question 1

List your judicial experience (courts and years)

Judge of the Marion Common Pleas Court, General Division, January 1, 2019 to Present.

Judge Edwards is the longest serving current Judge of either Division of the Marion Common Pleas Court. Since his first day on the job, Judge Edwards has also served as the Administrative Judge for the General Division, meaning that he manages the court and oversees the probation department, all of the employees and budget for the court and probation. In that role, Judge Edwards has brought the Marion County Courthouse into compliance with Ohio Supreme Court security guidelines by requiring all visitors to the courthouse to pass through a metal detector for the first time in Marion’s history, as well as implementing numerous other security procedures. Judge Edwards has also used the Role of Administrative Judge to ensure that those facing or being held on felony charges are no longer released due to jail overcrowding by revoking a 1999 order thereby ending the “revolving door” to Marion’s justice system. As Administrative Judge, he has also re-written the Local Rules of Court, appointed defense counsel for arraignment hearings to protect accused rights, adopted fax and e-filing, and brought many other updates to the Court. Additionally, Edwards has aggressively pursued grant funding and has secured more than $5.43 MILLION in total grant funds for the Marion Court system.

Judge Edwards is the only Judge of the General Division who runs either a “Drug Court” or "Re-Entry" program which help those who deal with addiction issues overcome their drug abuse and lead productive, law-abiding lives, especially after a period of incarceration.

Judge Edwards has presided over thousands of both Civil and Criminal cases of various types during his time on the bench. He has also held more jury trials than any other judge in Marion during that time, including 22 in 2023 and 16 in 2022.

During Edwards term, crime rates have dropped in Marion. According to the police department's annual report, "from 2015 to 2021, aggravated burglaries and burglaries decreased by 80%, dropping from 464 cases in 2015 to 93 cases in 2021. Breaking and entering cases have decreased by 85%, from 325 in 2015 to 50 in 2021. Theft has decreased by 49%, according to police department statistics, from 957 cases in 2015 to 486 cases in 2021.The number of assault cases dropped from 255 in 2015 to 126 in 2021. Aggravated assault and felonious assault cases declined from 46 in 2015 to 27 in 2021." Additionally, the Marion Police Department recently informed the public that "crime numbers are down in the City of Marion in the first six months of 2024 compared to the prior year." M.P.D. released statistics show that in the first six months of 2024, there have been ZERO Murders or Manslaughters, there have been 10 few Aggravated Assault/Felonious Assault, 20 fewer Assaults, and 71 fewer acts of Domestic Violence than in first six months of 2023. Overdoses have also decreased. In 2024, there have been 6 weeks without a single overdose, fatal or non-fatal.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

January 1, 2019 to Present = Judge of the Marion Common Pleas Court, General Division. Edwards is the longest serving current Judge of either Division of the Marion Common Pleas Court, and serves as Administrative Judge for the General Division, managing the court and probation department, including their employees and budgets. In that role, Edwards has brought the Courthouse into compliance with Supreme Court security guidelines by requiring visitors to the courthouse to pass through a metal detector, as well as implementing numerous other security procedures. Edwards has also used the Role of Administrative Judge to ensure that those facing or being held on felony charges are no longer released due to jail overcrowding by revoking a 1999 order thereby ending the “revolving door” to Marion’s justice system. Edwards has also re-written the Local Rules of Court, appointed defense counsel for arraignment hearings to protect accused rights, adopted fax and e-filing, and brought many other updates to the Court. Additionally, Edwards has secured more than $5.43 MILLION in total grant funds for the Marion Court system. Edwards is the only Judge of the General Division who runs a “Drug Court” or "Re-Entry" program which help those who deal with addiction issues overcome drug abuse and lead productive, law-abiding lives, especially after a period of incarceration. Edwards has presided over thousands of both Civil and Criminal cases of various types during his term. He has also held more jury trials than any other judge in Marion during that time.

Question 2

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

Judge Edwards almost two decades at the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office, gave him the training and experience needed to make the needed changes to Marion's justice system. Judge Edwards experience successfully prosecuting thousands of felony crimes, including dozens of murders, prepared him to be Marion's Judge. Several cases he handled garnered national media coverage, including the death penalty prosecution of Columbus SWAT officer Steve Smith’s killer, and the prosecution of Michael Slager for both the arson of Judy Malinowski and three years later for her murder from that arson; a case that made Ohio legal history by being the first to preserve a murder victim’s testimony via deposition for trial, and ultimately resulted in the passage of “Judy’s Law”, and is memorialized in the Emmy Award winning documentary “The Fire That Took Her” which is currently available on Paramount Plus. That big city experience combined with Judge Edwards hometown values was exactly what Marion needed to end its revolving door practices, and deal with the challenges of the last 6 years, as well as face the challenges to come.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

Question 3

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I have done what I said I would do in my first term as Judge, and Marion has seen great improvements during that time.

Crime rates have dropped significantly in Marion. According to the Marion police department's annual report, "from 2015 to 2021, aggravated burglaries and burglaries decreased by 80%, dropping from 464 cases in 2015 to 93 cases in 2021. Breaking and entering cases have decreased by 85%, from 325 in 2015 to 50 in 2021. Theft has decreased by 49%, according to police department statistics, from 957 cases in 2015 to 486 cases in 2021.The number of assault cases dropped from 255 in 2015 to 126 in 2021. Aggravated assault and felonious assault cases declined from 46 in 2015 to 27 in 2021." Additionally, the Police Department recently informed the public that "crime numbers are down in the City of Marion in the first six months of 2024 compared to the prior year." The Marion Police Department released statistics showing that in the first six months of 2024, there have been ZERO Murders or Manslaughters, there have been 10 few Aggravated Assault/Felonious Assault, 20 fewer Assaults, and 71 fewer acts of Domestic Violence than in first six months of 2023. Overdoses have also decreased. In 2024, there have been 6 weeks without a single overdose, fatal or non fatal.

I am running for a second term because there is more work to do to keep crime in check, and to make sure the old ways do not return.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

I have done what I said I would do in my first term as Judge and Marion has seen great improvements during that time. Crime rates have dropped significantly in Marion. According to the police department's annual report, "from 2015 to 2021, aggravated burglaries and burglaries decreased by 80%, dropping from 464 cases in 2015 to 93 cases in 2021. Breaking and entering cases have decreased by 85%, from 325 in 2015 to 50 in 2021. Theft has decreased by 49%, according to police department statistics, from 957 cases in 2015 to 486 cases in 2021.The number of assault cases dropped from 255 in 2015 to 126 in 2021. Aggravated assault and felonious assault cases declined from 46 in 2015 to 27 in 2021." Additionally, the Marion Police Department recently informed the public that "crime numbers are down in the City of Marion in the first six months of 2024 compared to the prior year." M.P.D. released statistics show that in the first six months of 2024, there have been ZERO Murders or Manslaughters, there have been 10 few Aggravated Assault/Felonious Assault, 20 fewer Assaults, and 71 fewer acts of Domestic Violence than in first six months of 2023. Overdoses have also decreased. In 2024, there have been 6 weeks without a single overdose, fatal or non fatal. I am running for a second term because there is more work to do to keep crime in check, and to make sure the old ways do not return.