Candidate Details
- Residence
Lima - Social Media
- Age
48 - Occupation
Allen County Common Pleas Judge - Education
B.S. Criminal Justice, 1998, University of Toledo
J.D., 2001, Ohio Northern University College of Law
- Work Experience
Law Clerk, Third District Court of Appeals, 2001-2004; 2009-2011
Private Practice, Rakestraw & Rakestraw, Findlay, Ohio
Assistant Allen County Prosecutor, 2005-2009; 2012-2018
Adjunct Professor, Ohio Northern University College of Law, 2001-2005; 2022-present
Allen County Common Pleas Court, General Division, Judge, 2019-present
- Family
Married with two children - Affiliations
Board Member, Crime Victim Services of Allen & Putnam Counties, 2014-2018
Founding member of Child Advocacy Center of West Central Ohio, 2013-2018
Allen County Bar Association, 2001-present, President in 2023
Question 1
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Allen County Common Pleas Court, General Division, Magistrate: August 2018-December 2019
Allen County Common Pleas Court, General Division, Judge: 2019-present
Question 2
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have extensive experience in criminal litigation, trying numerous jury trials successfully. I also have experience in private practice. My clerkships at both the Third District Court of Appeals for five years and with the Hancock County Common Pleas Court have made me very adept at judicial decision-making.
Question 3
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
The last five years as a judge in this Court have made me accutely aware of the needs of the community and how I can assist my community in my role as Judge. I want to continue my commitment to the citizens of Allen County and to bringing justice to those who come before me.