Candidate for
Judge; Court of Common Pleas; 6 Year Term Starting 1/04/09

I am a 1990 graduate of Miami University where I received a bachelor of arts with a major in History and a bachelor of science in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs, maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average and receiving summa cum laude honors. At Miami, I was awarded the academic Alumni Scholarship three times, received recognition as the top student in the political science department and was a national Truman Scholarship finalist alternate award winner.

I received my law degree from one of the nation's top law schools, the University of Michigan, where I graduated in the top ten percent of his class with cum laude and order of the coif honors. During my time in law school, I worked a stint in the Greene County Prosecutor's office. I had the honor of being selected and serving as Executive Editor of the University of Michigan Law Reform law school. In addition, I was a moot court semifinalist and received academic awards as the top student in my Property and Legal Writing classes.

After law school, I had the honor of being selected for a clerkship on the United States of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, one of the most prestigious and sought after positions a young lawyer can receive. I served under the Honorable David A. Nelson, who had been appointed to the Sixth Circuit by President Ronald Reagan. During my clerkship, I performed extensive legal writing, analysis and research on civil and criminal matters.

Following my clerkship, I accepted a position with one of Cincinnati's top law firms, Keating, Muething & Klekamp, P.L.L, where I have practiced law for the past 13 years. I have a broad range of litigation experience, including securities fraud litigation, the defense of personal injury claims, constitutional and voting rights claims, the defense of labor and employment claims, tax appeals, zoning and property rights matters, contract disputes, trade secrets, bankruptcy matters, securities arbitrations and complex commercial litigation. I also have experience in appellate argument and litigation, representing clients in matters before appellate courts in Ohio as well as in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Third Circuits. In addition, I have prepared responses to petitions in the United States Supreme Court.

For the past several years, I've specialized in mass tort bankruptcy matters, advising clients across the country and appearing in proceedings in New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut.

I believe that I'll bring a unique perspective and a familiarity with the concerns of local communities to the bench because of my public service as a County Commissioner and a member of Cincinnati City Council. I have served as a Hamilton County Commissioner since January of 2005. On the Commission I've focused on reforming County government, improving public safety and protecting tax dollars. I believe in fiscal responsibility, and have strongly advocated for the rights of taxpayers.

I've worked to reform the criminal justice system and increase the number of jail spaces available within existing resources. I also helped initiate neighborhood probation substations and supported efforts to allow the prosecutor to target our County's most violent criminals. From December 1999 to December 2004, I served as a member of Cincinnati City Council. I worked to improve public safety as the Chairman of the Law and Public Safety Committee. After the riots, I initiated legislation that increased the police presence on the streets. I also initiated a focus on neighborhood quality of life issues that included crackdowns on such nuisances as abandoned cars, weeds and litter.

I currently live in Pleasant Ridge and am the proud father of three sons, Michael (12), Matthew (10) and Brian (6).