Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy
GOP Women to Meet

The Darke County Republican Women's Club (DCRWC) will be holding its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on June 9. Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy will be the featured speaker.

Justice Kennedy began her career in the justice system as a police officer. She was assigned to a rotating, shift-single officer road patrol unit working to protect and serve the citizens of the City of Hamilton. From the routine, to the heart pounding, to the heart breaking she has seen it all. During her career at the Hamilton Police Department Justice Kennedy also worked undercover operations, implemented crime prevention programs, and later, as a civil assistant, assisted in drafting police policy and procedure for the Accreditation Program.

Serving the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Justice Kennedy improved the case management system to ensure the timely resolution of cases for families and children. Working with state legislators she championed a "common sense" family law initiative to reduce multiple-forum litigation for Butler County families.

During Justice Kennedy’s term as administrative judge, Butler County faced tough economic times. Justice Kennedy organized concerned elected officials in a county-wide Budget Work Group. Seeing the need to bring private sector financial know-how to the government, she worked to create the Advisory Committee to the Budget Work Group. Serving as the facilitator, Justice Kennedy led discussions between county officials and private sector leaders to analyze county finances, study and implement cost saving measures, and present business driven fiscal policy to the County Commissioners.

Beginning her legal career as a solo practitioner, Justice Kennedy ran a small business of her own. While in private practice she served the legal needs of families, juveniles, and the less fortunate. As special counsel for Attorney General Betty D. Montgomery, Justice Kennedy fought on behalf of Ohio’s taxpayers to collect monies due the State of Ohio. As a part-time magistrate in the Butler County Area Courts, Justice Kennedy presided over a wide-array of civil litigation and assisted law enforcement officers and private citizens seeking the issuance of criminal warrants for arrest.

Throughout her career Justice Kennedy has served on numerous boards, developed and facilitated programs to address the needs of young people, and worked with judges across the state. As a dedicated jurist she has received numerous awards of recognition including, The Furtherance of Justice Award, in 2001; Above the Fold Award, in 2002; Judge of the Year, in 2006; Excellence in Public Service, in June 2009; and was named one of 13 professional women to watch by The Cincinnati Enquirer, March 17, 2013.

Dinner is available by reservation, at a cost of $7.50. To place a reservation, please email Wavelene Denniston at DCRWReservations@darkegop.org, or call her at (937) 547-6477. Reservations must be made before noon on June 5 and reservations placed must be paid.

Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. in the Chestnut Village Center of the Brethren Home Retirement Community in Greenville. Those who wish to only attend the meeting may do so by arriving at 7 p.m.

The Darke County Republican Women’s Club meets on the second Monday of every month, except January and August. For more information, please contact President Sally Zeiter at DCRWPresident@darkegop.org. The public is invited, and encouraged, to attend.