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French to speak to
GOP Women
By Lyn Bliss, Assistant Editor
Judge Judith L. French of the 10th District Court of Appeals has served
as a visiting judge on the Supreme Court of Ohio and heard oral
arguments in a case involving a Shelby County civil
lawsuit.
Judge French was selected by Chief Justice
Thomas J. Moyer to sit in place of Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger, who
recused herself from Case Nos. 2005-0702 and 2005-0734, Doe v.
Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
According to the Ohio Constitution, in the event of a recusal by a
Justice, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court can select any of the
68 sitting Ohio appellate court judges to sit temporarily on the
Supreme Court.
This was the first time that Judge
French has served as a visiting judge. Justice Alice Robie Resnick also
recused herself from Doe v. Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Judge Beth
Whitmore of the 9th District Court of Appeals sat in place of
Resnick.
“We are pleased to have Judge French and Judge Whitmore join us
today,” Chief Justice Moyer said. “Their participation will provide the
parties in the case with a court of seven justices despite the recusal
of Justice Lanzinger and Justice Resnick.”
The case involves a civil lawsuit filed by an adult male against the
Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati for damages arising from the
plaintiff's alleged sexual abuse by a priest employed by the diocese
more than 20 years ago. The suit challenges Ohio 's two-year statutory
time limit for filing civil lawsuits based on sexual
assault.
Judge French, who is a resident of Grandview , has served on the 10th
District Court of Appeals since October 2004. The 10th District Court
of Appeals serves Franklin County and hears appeals from administrative
agencies as well as original actions and civil and criminal
appeals.
Prior to that, she was chief legal counsel
to Gov. Bob Taft and chief legal counsel and assistant attorney general
in Attorney General Betty Montgomery's office. She also served as
deputy director for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and was an
associate at Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur.
Archived video of this case and every case argued before the Supreme
Court of Ohio since March 2004 is available by clicking HERE.
French has served as Chief Legal Counsel in the Ohio Governor's
Office, Assistant Attorney General; Chief Counsel for the Ohio
Attorney General's Office, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs for the
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Associate at Porter, Wright,
Morris & Arthur and Associate Counsel for Steelcase, Inc.
The Darke County Republican Women's Club will be meeting
at 6:30 p.m. on May 9 in the Chestnut Village Center of the Brethren
Home Retirement Community. Dinner is available by prior reservation, at
a cost of $7.50 per person.
Anyone wishing to join the group for
dinner prior to the evening's meeting and program, may place
reservations by calling or emailing Wavelene Denniston before noon on
May 5. Reservations placed are expected to be paid. Wavelene's phone is
(937) 547-6477 or she may be emailed by clicking HERE.
Those wishing not to dine may arrive before 7 p.m.
for the program. The club is currently on a membership drive and
welcomes new members interested in the Darke County community and
promoting Republican leadership. Additional information may be obtained
by contacting president Sally (937) 423-2391 or she may be emailed by
clicking HERE.
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