The public will be given the opportunity tonight to honor a life-long public servant in Warren County.

Rachel Hutzel, judge of the Ohio 12th District Court of Appeals and former Warren County prosecutor, died Saturday at age 56 from cancer.

Hutzel will lie in-state from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the rotunda of the Warren County Administration Building, 406 Justice Drive, Lebanon. A mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis De Sales Church, 20 Desales Ave., Lebanon.

Bennett Manning, 12th District Court of Appeals administrator, said out of respect and tribute to Hutzel, all of the courts in the 12th District have been requested to lower their flags to half-staff for 30 days. In addition, an empty chair will be maintained in the courtroom until such time as we receive her formal portrait from the family to hang in the courtroom in a ceremony at a later datecolleague.”

He said the court would be reassigning her cases. Manning said it would up to the Gov. John Kasich’s office to appoint a judge to fill the vacancy created by Hutzel’s death. He said the 12th District has never had a vacancy due to the death of a judge.

The 12th District Court of Appeals covers Butler, Warren, Preble, Clermont, Clinton, Brown, Fayette and Madison counties.

Rob Nichols, Kasich’s spokesman, said when there is a judicial vacancy, the local political party officials will interview and vet candidates before making a recommendation to Kasich’s office. Once the recommendation is made by the local party leadership, Nichols said the governor’s office will also interview and vet the candidate before making an appointment.

In 2002, Hutzel was the first woman elected Warren County prosecutor and was instrumental in the opening of the Child Advocacy Center of Warren County in 2008. She ran unopposed to for the seat on the 12th District Court of Appeals to succeed fellow Warren Countian, Judge William Young who had been on the court since 1986 and was ineligible to run again.

When Hutzel joined the court on Feb. 10, 2011 to begin her six-year term, she became the first woman to serve on the court since it was created in 1983. She also chaired or served on the board of several charities and non-profit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Victim Advocate Committee.

Hutzel is survived by her husband Jeff Blazey, son Matt Blazey; her mother Patricia Hutzel; and several siblings.

The Warren County Administration Building will close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday to accommodate the viewing.