Local court clerk earns prestigious state certification

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — The Supreme Court of Ohio and the National Center for State Courts Institute for Court Management, recognized 38 court professionals who earned the Certified Court Manager credential during a recent certification ceremony.

The Class of 2026 represents courts from across Ohio, spanning municipal, common pleas, juvenile, probate, and appellate courts. Graduates hold roles ranging from court administrators and clerks of court to magistrates, probation officers, and program coordinators.

Megan Ryan, who has served as the Clerk of Court for the Van Wert Municipal Court since 2019, was among the class of graduates. 

The Court Management Program is a certification program available through the National Center for State Courts Institute for Court Management and The Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College. Graduates of the three-year program underwent over 200 hours of training and education on six different topics:

• Purposes and Responsibilities of Courts
• Accountability and Court Performance
• Caseflow and Workflow Management
• Budget and Fiscal Management
• Workforce Management
• Project Management for Courts

Participants who successfully completed the program received a diploma and nationally-recognized certificate as a Certified Court Manager.

“Megan has always excelled in whatever role she had at the Van Wert Muncipal Court,” Van Wert Municipal Court Judge Jill Worthington said. “Selection for the Court Management Program at the Supreme Court of Ohio is a very competitive process. Court personnel from all over the state apply to be accepted to this program. Megan possesses the knowledge, skills and abilities to manage the Van Wert Municipal Court very well and her diverse experience made her the perfect candidate for this program.”

“Personally, I am beyond proud of Megan in watching her career with the Municipal Court develop from when she started as a part-time deputy clerk to where she has ascended currently,” she added. “Her hard work and dedication to the staff and the public we serve is evident in everything she does.”

Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy delivered remarks to the graduating class, addressing the responsibilities court leaders carry and the challenges shaping the future of judicial administration.

“The work you have chosen to lead has never been more complex, nor more vital,” Chief Justice Kennedy said. “For every challenge you face, the solution begins and ends with the people we serve.”

Chief Justice Kennedy identified the ethical use of artificial intelligence, the growing demands of self-represented litigants, and the continued need to strengthen public trust as defining issues for court administrators. She noted that a recent National Center for State Courts survey found 63 percent of Americans express confidence in state court systems, ranking courts among the most trusted branches of government.

“Together we must build on the trust Ohioans have in us through transparency, accountability, and service,” Chief Justice Kennedy said. “You are the professionals who ensure the judiciary functions with integrity and reliability, day after day.”