Voters will decide Nov. 9 who will serve one of the judge posts in Portage County Municipal Court.
Wesley Buchanan is challenging Judge Melissa Roubic, who has served for six years. Buchanan, an attorney, hasn’t served before as a judge, but has sought judge posts twice before.
He ran for Portage County Municipal Court in 2021, and challenged Judge Laurie J. Pittman in 2022 for Portage County Common Pleas Court.
Roubic said the municipal court has helped people through specialized dockets and diversion programs. Buchanan, meanwhile, hopes to use artificial intelligence and take a “data-driven” approach to find out what kinds of specialized dockets the county needs.
The municipal court presides over misdemeanors, as well as low-level civil cases. There are three judges in the county’s Municipal Court − Judges Mark K. Fankhauser and Keivn T. Poland serve at the Portage County Courthouse in Ravenna, while Roubic serves in Kent.
Roubic, a Democrat, agreed to be interviewed for this story. Buchanan, a Republican, submitted information and comments in writing in response to requests to be interviewed.
Wesley Buchanan seeks judgeship
Buchanan, who lives in Brimfield, works out of law offices in Akron and Medina, practicing primarily criminal law.
In his written statement, he said he takes a “personalized, strategic approach” to each case and believes in “the power of strong, principled advocacy.”
“I thrive under pressure. I don’t back down easily,” he said. “And I never forget that behind every case file is a real person, someone who deserves to be heard, respected and vigorously defended.”
He said he wants to bring on another specialty docket and hold court outside the courthouse, something he said Ohio law permits. That, he said would increase transparency by allowing the public to see what goes on in the court.
He said AI could be used to analyze “massive amounts of data” the court receives.
“This data-driven approach will also determine what kind of specialty docket our community needs and will ensure that the court is being as efficient as possible for Portage County,” he said.
Judge Melissa Roubic seeks a second term
Roubic, a Windham resident, previously served on the Windham Board of Education and also represented Windham on the Maplewood Career Center Board of Education. Prior to her election in 2019, she had served as an acting judge in the municipal court since 2004, working under all three judges.
She has served as presiding judge of the municipal court for two years, and also oversees the court’s specialty docket for mental health.
“I’m very proud of my accomplishments over my first term,” she said.
Roubic said 98% of the court’s cases have been resolved within a “reasonable time frame,” according to the Ohio Supreme Court. The municipal court also has a STAR court, which stands for Successful Treatment and Recovery. The dockets, she said, help offenders find recovery, and also connects them with programs that can meet their practical needs, such as insurance or car repair.
“It’s a comprehensive program to assist people to become contributing members of society,” she said. “It’s 100% voluntary and it’s not easy, but we’ve had great success from it.”
Other programs, such as a new diversion program set up for first-time offenders facing theft charges, allow first time offenders to have their charges dismissed if they complete several requirements, including an education program and restitution for the items stolen.
“That’s the beauty of the municipal court,” she said. “Often people are first time offenders and people are having their first experience with the court. If we can keep people from reoffending, that’s the goal.”
Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at dsmith@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Wesley Buchanan, Judge Melissa Roubic seek judgeship on Portage County Municipal Court
Reporting by Diane Smith, Ravenna Record-Courier / Record-Courier
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