The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Lake County judges file for reelection
Karen Lawson and John P. O’Donnell seek new term
A pair of Lake County judges have filed for reelection.
Lake County Juvenile Court Judge Karen Lawson is seeking her third term on the bench and Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge John P. O’Donnell is seeking his second.
Both are Republicans and if their petitions are certified, they will appear on the Repub- lican primary ballot in the March 17, 2020, election.
Lawson was first elected in 2008 and was the county’s first female juvenile court judge when she took office in January 2009. She was reelected to another sixyear term in 2014.
In a news release announcing her filing, Lawson said has “developed or enhanced” award winning programs.
The Intensive Community Rehabilitation program, New Voices program and the Court’s Alternative School all won the Ohio Department of Youth Services Director’s Community Recognition Award, the release stated.
The court’s garden program has also won a Mantis award for recognition of an outstanding community garden.
“It has been an honor to serve Lake County’s children and families as the juvenile judge the past ten years,” Lawson said in a statement. “I look forward to a third term. I am confident that my staff and I can build upon the progress that has already been made and further reduce juvenile crime in Lake County.”
O’Donnell is finishing out his first term on the bench
after also winning election in 2014.
He replaced Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Joe Gibson who could not seek reelection due to age restrictions.
He is one of four common pleas court judges in the general division.
He is assigned to adjudicate criminal felony cases, civil actions in which the relief requested is $15,000 or more, and civil stalking actions.
O’Donnell said in a news release he hopes to continue his service with another sixyear term commencing Jan. 5, 2021.
Though judicial elections have partisan primaries, the November general election races are non-partisan.