MANSFIELD — Kirsten Pscholka-Gartner said Wednesday her work as a magistrate in Richland County Domestic Relations Court has prepared her to lead the county’s Probate Court.
“I have devoted my career to serving the citizens of Richland County and ensuring that everyone has access to fair and equal justice,” Pscholka-Gartner said Wednesday during a local Democratic Party luncheon.
“I am running for probate court judge to continue that work,” the 39-year-old said.
Current Probate Court Judge Philip Alan B. Mayer, also a Democrat, is retiring at the end of this term because Ohio law prevents a common pleas judge from beginning a new term after age 70.
According to its website, Richland County Probate Court provides legal proceedings to determine a decedent’s assets, their value and the method of distribution to heirs as provided by law. This proceeding is called estate administration, and occurs whether the person dies with or without a will. Some other duties of the court are guardianships, trusts, civil commitments, adoptions, name changes, birth registrations/corrections and marriage licenses.
Pscholka-Gartner is opposed on the March 17 primary ballot by Joe Jerger, who is scheduled to speak at next Wednesday’s party luncheon. The primary winner will oppose Republican Kelly Badnell in November’s general election.
“I am the only candidate in the race who has judicial experience. In fact, I have nine years of judicial experience as a magistrate,” said Pscholka-Gartner, who said she believes she is the best candidate based on her wide variety of legal experience.
Pscholka-Gartner graduated from Lexington High School in 2009 and earned bachelor’s degrees in international studies and political science from Capital University two years later. She then graduated from the Capital University Law School and passed the Ohio bar exam at age 23.
She then went to work in the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office as the appellate attorney, handling hundreds of cases in the 5th District Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court. She also worked as the back-up juvenile court prosecutor and assisted in the department’s civil division.
In 2011, Domestic Relations Court Judge Heather Cockley appointed Pscholka-Gartner as a magistrate. She became the court’s chief magistrate almost a year ago.
She said both courts involve making family-related legal decisions.
“Probate court, like domestic relations court, is a family court. I spent the last nine years deciding cases involving some of the most sensitive family issues,” Pscholka-Gartner said.
“I have gained a working knowledge and a comfort level with courtroom procedures and handling a variety of challenging cases,” she said.
“In all cases, I strive to make the court as transparent, accessible and user friendly as possible within the boundaries set by the Ohio Supreme Court,” Pscholka-Gartner said.
She is admitted to practice law in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and the State of Ohio.
Pscholka-Gartner volunteered as a legal advisor for the Lexington High School Mock Trial program from the 2005 to 2018. In 2007, she was elected to serve as a member of Lexington Village Council for the remainder of a two-year unexpired term, which ended Dec. 31, 2009.
According to the Ohio Supreme Court website, a county common pleas court judge will earn $150,183 in 2020.
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