“Oh, yes that is always what I wanted to do,” said the 61-year-old county domestic relations judge. She still admits to being an avid reader of murder mysteries and just about anything else.
“I am a good library user. I read everything, junk, trash, history, classics — everything.”
In January, Kessler will have a bit more time for reading when she retires from the court where she has served as judge and magistrate for more than 20 years.
Kessler chose not to run for a second six-year term in November, simply stating, “I just decided I wanted to do something different.”
Domestic relations Magistrate Barbara Carter was elected in November to the judge’s seat. Her term begins Jan. 1.
People have been squeezing Kessler for information about her next vocation, speculating that she may run for local office or restart a private law practice.
Kessler smiled and said, “I want to allow myself a couple months of freedom. I want to see what the rest of the world has been doing while I have been in a courtroom.”
“I just signed up to volunteer at Ice Fest this year. I told them I would do anything they needed, empty the trash, whatever,” she said.
In February, while Ohioans shiver, the longtime Reds fan will be in Arizona for spring training.
Kessler noted that being a judge can be isolating.
“People treat you differently right away. I am looking forward to getting back to being like everyone else,” she said.
Kessler, a resident of Hamilton’s West Side, walks to work daily — even in the cold and rain. She has been walking for years, beginning the healthy habit when she and her husband, Thomas Eberwein, who is an attorney in Cincinnati, lived in the Lindenwald neighborhood.
“It’s about a mile and a half from my house now, but it was farther when we lived in Lindenwald,” she said. “I enjoy it. I am an observer. You see more when you walk.”
In the corner of the judge’s chambers is a fake fur coat, tennis shoes, a cap and backpack. All garb for her trek.
Lined up ready for the courtroom are heels of various colors.
“I think I am just going to toss those,” she said with a laugh.
Kessler graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1973. She met her husband of 36 years, Thomas Eberwein, in law school.
“I always thought I wanted to be a business attorney. I took a job at GE and I just didn’t like it. It wasn’t for me,” she said.
The young attorneys moved to Hamilton where Eberwein took a job with Champion Paper. Kessler opened a general law practice with emphasis on family law. In 1978, Kessler was employed as an assistant attorney general for Ohio for mental commitments and in 1979 she was named assistant Butler County prosecuting attorney and helped form the first child support enforcement unit.
She first took the bench in domestic relations court in 1984 when she was appointed referee for the late Judge David Black. In 1987, Kessler was appointed as a magistrate by Judge Leslie Spillane. She was elected in 2004 as judge when Spillane retired.
“Divorcing people is what I do,” Kessler said, in a simple answer to what her job entails.
In her years on the bench, Kessler said the divorce rate has declined, so have application for marriage licenses.
“Nationally, from 1988 to 2008, divorce filings declined 20 percent,” Kessler said. “That’s in line with decline in marriage licenses.”
The judge added, “People don’t feel it necessary to be married anymore. If they don’t get along, they just go their separate ways.”
While many divorce cases are resolved quickly, Kessler has presided over trials the took weeks. Divorce trials can be complicated, emotional and hard fought.
“I had an 11-day trial recently. They couldn’t agree on the time of day,” she said.
Fortunately, Kessler is a people person with an eye for seeing both sides.
“I like to hear their stories,” she said, noting a key is treating everyone with respect.
Hamilton attorney Mike Shanks, who began practicing law in the city about the same time as Kessler and who often appears in her court with clients, said, “I have known Judge Kessler for just over 30 years. She has honesty, integrity and compassion. I am a better person and attorney for having known her.”
Shanks described Kessler, as “pleasant and outgoing. Just the personality and experience for the job. She will be missed.”
Fellow domestic relations Judge Sharon Kennedy said there will be a loss of experience with Kessler’s departure.
“We are a collegiate group of people here. We often talk and examine aspects of the law,” Kennedy said. “It is a loss when someone with Eva’s depth of experience leaves.”
She described Kessler as “thoughtful” as a judge.
“I have enjoyed it all. It will be hard to say goodbye to the people here. They are all such good people,” Kessler said.
But she may be back in the courthouse next year to help with one of her pet projects.
Several years ago, Kessler helped organize a group of volunteers who staff the two help desks in the Government Services Center. They answer questions and give directions.
“It has worked out well,” Kessler said. “I may be back to take a two-hour shift myself.”
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