Transition period typical with new judge

Van Wert independent staff

COLUMBUS — A transition period lies ahead with the naming of local attorney Martin D. Burchfield to replace retiring Van Wert County Common Pleas Judge Charles D. Steele.

Selected by Ohio Governor John Kasich last week, Burchfield will assume office on February 2, 2015, and must then run for election in November 2016 to retain the seat for the remainder of Judge Steele’s unexpired term, which ends December 31, 2018.

Because Burchfield not only has a private law practice, but is also an assistant prosecutor in the Van Wert County Prosecutor’s Office, visiting judges will be needed for the month-long period between Judge Steele’s official retirement date — December 31 — and Judge Burchfield’s February 2 start date.

In addition, any cases pending from Burchfield’s private practice or the county prosecutor’s office will have to be heard by visiting judges appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Any cases that arise in January will be handled by either Judge Steele, who although retiring has already been appointed as a visiting retired  judge, or Probate-Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Taylor, who also is considered a Common Pleas Division judge.

As a visiting retired judge, Judge Steele is also qualified to hear cases in other counties within Ohio.

Even after Judge Burchfield officially takes office in February, visiting judges will occasionally be needed to handle cases for which he needs to recuse himself (excuse himself from hearing because of a possible conflict of interest or lack of partiality). It’s a process that could take several months, since it includes cases of prison inmates up for early release from prison and those charged with probation violation.

Judge Steele said the process is similar to when he took over for former Common Pleas Judge Sumner E. Walters.

“I had the same situation and used visiting judges when I first took office,” the retiring judge said.

Burchfield, who was appointed by the governor this past Friday, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo and his law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law.

His previous experience includes working for the law offices of Kennedy & Burchfield, Johnson & Burchfield, and Martin D. Burchfield LPA. He has also been a public defender and was serving as an assistant county prosecutor prior to his selection as judge.

Burchfield also previously served on Van Wert City Council and was council president in the 1990s. He was a member of the Van Wert County Council on Aging Board, and is a member and former president of Van Wert Service Club.

During his 15-year tenure as Common Pleas judge, Steele established the court’s Special Project Fund, from which money was drawn for the courtroom renovation project that included refurbishing the dome over the courtroom.

The fund also pays for a mediation program, helps fund the court’s domestic relations magistrate, technology upgrades, and pays court employees’ travel and education expenses.

Judge Steele also spearheaded the recent development of a drug court intensive drug treatment program that encompasses all three Van Wert courts.