2 interview in Columbus for open Butler County judge seat

The successor for the common pleas judicial seat held by the late Craig Hedric could be decided by as early as his week, according to a spokeswoman for Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

The Journal-News was able to confirm that local attorney Greg Howard and Fairfield Municipal Court Judge Joyce Campbell were interviewed in Columbus last week. They were two of the three Butler County residents seeking the judicial recommendation by the Butler County GOP.

The Journal-News was not able to confirm if P&G senior patent attorney Peter D. Meyer was interviewed, but the Butler County GOP submitted all three names to the governor’s office for consideration.

Howard was the recommended choice by the Butler County GOP following a Dec. 14 central committee meeting.

The defense attorney received 73 votes, which bested Campbell's 59 votes. Meyer received only three votes.

Howard said he was interviewed for a total of 30 minutes in separate interviews in Columbus. Campbell and Meyer could not be reached for comment.

Kasich spokeswoman Emmalee Kalmbach said news about the appointment “could be as soon as this week.”

Hedric, 55, collapsed at his Liberty Twp. home on Nov. 13 and later died at a local hospital. The Butler County Coroner's Office reported Hedric died of cardiovascular disease.

The Talawanda graduate and Oxford native was first elected a Butler County Common Pleas judge in November 2006, and then re-elected to a second six-year term in November 2012.

Whomever is appointed to the unexpired term, they will need to run for election in November 2018 if they want to retain the seat on the bench. The term for Hedric’s common pleas judicial seat begins on Jan. 3, 2019.

Retired Second District Court of Appeals Judge James Brogan was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court to hear Hedric's cases at the request of the Butler County judges. Brogan previously served as a visiting judge in Butler County earlier last year after the retirement of former common pleas judge Patricia Oney.

MORE: Retired judge appointed to hear Hedric’s cases

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