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Burchfield becomes new CP Court judge

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Martin Burchfield became just the third Van Wert County Common Pleas judge in three decades when he was sworn in by his predecessor, retired Judge Charles D. Steele, on Thursday.

Judge Martin Burchfield (left) is sworn by his predecessor, retired Judge Charles D. Steele, as his wife, Susan, looks on. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)
Judge Martin Burchfield (left) is sworn by his predecessor, retired Judge Charles D. Steele, as his wife, Susan, looks on. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

Judge Steele, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Judge Sumner E. Walters, after that judge’s election to the Third Ohio District Court of Appeals in 1998, announced his retirement in September 2014 after 15 years on the bench. Judge Walters served 16 years on the Common Pleas bench, starting in January 1983.

Burchfield’s wife, Susan, held the Bible while he was sworn in, while the new judge’s mother, Bettye, and a large number of attorneys, court officials, county government officials and others were also on hand for the event.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, Burchfield, an assistant Van Wert County prosecuting attorney and a former defense attorney, said those experiences would be positives in his new position.

“I’ve had two experiences that will have a major effect: One is the last 15 years in the prosecutor’s office,” Judge Burchfield noted, “but I did 13 years worth of criminal defense work, including some public defense work, so I have an understanding of the challenges that those (defense) lawyers have, and also some of the challenges that the defendants have.

“So I think I have an understanding of the process, and I think I can use that to assist in moving cases along,” the new judge added.

Judge Burchfield said keeping the docket moving is certainly one of his goals as Common Pleas judge.

“I want to follow the law, keep the docket moving so that people aren’t waiting for justice and to make good, fair decisions for people,” the new judge noted. “I think the Common Pleas judge, if that person does the job correctly, can have a really nice, positive impact on the community.”

The new judge also talked about the drug court created by Judge Steele that uses the prescription drug Vivitrol to help treat opiate addicts.

“We’re going to find out what works and what doesn’t work,” Judge Burchfield said, adding that he would also be looking at similar programs in other counties to see how well they are working.

The new judge also said he is looking forward to his new position, which will allow him to approach the law from a new direction.

“I’m looking forward to really being able to dig into the law in each case, and having the time to do it,” he said. “It’s about doing sentencing that tries to help people and protect the community, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that in the past.”

In talking about the past history of the court, Judge Burchfield had praise for the two judges who preceded him on the Common Pleas bench.

“If I can do this job the way the two Common Pleas judges I practiced in front of in Van Wert did it, I’ll be fortunate,” he said.

Burchfield, who was chosen in December 2014 by Ohio Governor John Kasich as the next Van Wert County Common Pleas judge, has a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Toledo. He formerly practiced law with his father-in-law, attorney Don Johnson, as well as in partnership with County Prosecutor Charles F. Kennedy III.

Burchfield also was chairman of the Van Wert County Republican Central Committee and was a former Van Wert City councilman and Council president.

As part of the transition, local attorney Dillon Staas IV recently purchased Burchfield’s law practice, since judges are not allowed to practice law, and will also replace the new judge as an assistant county prosecutor.

POSTED: 01/30/15 at 9:10 am. FILED UNDER: News