Dusza, Riddle vie for the bench

SANDUSKY — For the first time in more than two decades, a new judge will preside in Erie County Common Pleas Court. The question just remains, among the two leading candidates, who? This spring, a certain segment of voters will decide between a pair of local attorneys. Both are presenting their campaigns for this open judge's seat by highlighting their experience, efficiency and dedication to public service. Erie County Common Pleas Court magistrate Thomas Dusza is running against local lawyer Loretta Riddle for a judge's seat — one of four — in Erie County Common Pleas Court judge. They're vying for the position currently occupied by Judge Beverly McGookey, who is stepping down due to age limitations stipulating that a judge cannot seek re-election after age 70. Dusza, meanwhile, serves as McGookey's magistrate. Both candidates are Republicans, and only GOP voters in the county will choose one of them in the primary on May 5. No Democrats, Libertarians or independents are running in the judge's race. Thus, the primary winner — who will serve a six-year term starting in February — will likely be the winner when the choice opens to all voters in the November general election. Whoever wins will join the three other Erie County Common Pleas Court judges, none of which facing re-election this cycle: Roger Binette, Robert DeLamatre and Tygh Tone. A new judge hasn't entered this courthouse since Binette and Tone first won election in 2004. In preparation for the primary, the Register reached out to both Riddle and Dusza to ask them to share information about themselves and their reasons for running. Here is what each candidate said: Q: What are the top three reasons that you want to run for judge? Dusza: I am the most qualified candidate for the position. I have extensive experience with 27 years in private practice, handling a variety of cases for people who represent a spectrum of persons in the community. I also have 8.5 years of experience and training as a magistrate in common pleas court as well as 8.5 years of experience and training as court administrator. I have a strong desire to serve the community in which I have built a lengthy career in law and in which I have raised my family. I believe I can best protect the rights of vulnerable individuals who come before the court and possess the judicial temperament to apply the letter of the law in a fair and firm manner. I have the necessary experience and skill set to preside over complex cases to ensure just outcomes for all participants who come before the court. I want to move the court forward and bring innovation and modernization to the court in the most fiscally responsible means possible. I seek to implement programming and efficiencies that I see as needed and overdue to best serve the community. Riddle: First, judges are public servants and, as such, should serve the public. As an attorney, I have practiced in courtrooms throughout Ohio. I've had the unique opportunity to work with a wide spectrum of judicial styles. I've seen what works and what doesn't. I've experienced firsthand different judicial approaches to managing a court docket and keeping cases moving in a timely manner. I want to bring those best practices to Erie County (residents) because they deserve more than the same old, same old. Second, I have proven experience. The judicial position that I'm running for handles criminal and probate cases. I have litigated criminal and probate cases for over two decades. Throughout my entire legal career, I have represented clients in jury trials, from high-profile cases, civil and major crimes, to misdemeanors. My extensive trial experience allows me to identify potential pitfalls before they happen, ensuring the record is clean and the judgment is solid. Third, change. There's a saying: If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten. I've had clients who have experienced court delays on their cases. I'm committed to making changes that will greatly improve services to Erie County residents at no cost. My proven work ethic will ensure my rulings will not be unnecessarily delayed. Q: What is your legal background? How many years have you practiced, and what are your specialties? Dusza: I was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio in 1990 and have been continually licensed in Ohio for over 35 years. Upon graduation from the University of Toledo College of Law, I was employed with the Sandusky firm of Reno, Bogden & Ferber for 27 years where I practiced family law, criminal law, probate and other general litigation matters. While in private practice, I appeared in all levels of courts in many counties in Ohio, including (the) mayor's court, municipal courts, common pleas courts and the Sixth District Court of Appeals. I am also certified to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division. I was a magistrate and court administrator in Ottawa County before coming back to Erie County as a magistrate and court administrator for Judge Beverly McGookey in 2021 where I have been since that time. I have served as an administrative hearing officer for the Erie County Child Support Enforcement Agency from 2021 to 2025. I am certified as a family court mediator through the Supreme Court of Ohio. Riddle: I have practiced in state and federal courts. I'm licensed in Ohio and Michigan to appear in all state courts as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. I have practiced law for 22 years. For the past 10 years, I have owned and operated my own law office in Sandusky. Throughout my career, I have handled a wide range of cases, including criminal, probate, adoptions, appeals, voting rights, divorce, dissolution, custody, traffic, OVI's, landlord-tenant and civil. I have filed hundreds of motions, written briefs, conducted evidentiary hearings, jury trials and appellate arguments. I have practiced in various Ohio Courts of Appeals, the Ohio Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Q: Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the judge position? Dusza: I believe that I am the best candidate for the judge position because I am the only candidate with all the necessary experience to effectively fulfill the duties of judge. I possess more experience in the areas in which the court has jurisdiction. As stated, I have been in private practice for significantly more years than my opponent. I have served as a magistrate in the very court in which I am seeking to be elected judge. I have presided over a multitude of criminal, probate and domestic cases in my tenure as a magistrate. With 8.5 years of experience and training as a court administrator, I possess the knowledge and credentials to guide the court and properly conduct the business of the court. I have been responsible for the budget of the court, the payment of the court's bills amongst other duties. I have developed and maintain excellent working relationships with judicial partners, community partners as well as other governmental partners. I have been certified by the Ohio Supreme Court through the National Center for State Courts as a certified court manager and a certified court executive. Each one of those certifications requires over 90 hours of training provided through the Ohio Supreme Court. I have also been certified by the National Center for State Courts as an instructor on the topic of court management. I have successfully written and been awarded grants, which have provided the court with monetary resources to modernize the court and bring innovative programming. I am a candidate who has been certified as a mediator with additional training in family law mediation. Riddle: I'm the best candidate because I bring strong courtroom experience, a reputation for professionalism and the ability to manage cases efficiently. I have seen the real-world impact judicial decisions have on individuals and families, and I take that responsibility seriously. I combine legal experience with a deep commitment to integrity, public service, a strict adherence of the law and a promise to not unduly delay justice. Q: Do you feel that fairness and impartiality are important qualities for judges, and, if elected, would you bring those traits to the court? Dusza: Fairness and impartiality are the two most important qualities in a judge because they form the foundation of the judicial system in this country. Fairness and impartiality provide legitimacy for the very existence of the court and provide the necessary public trust to allow the courts to function appropriately in the democratic system. Without these two fundamental tenets, there would be no public buy-in and ultimately no order in society. The purpose of courts is to provide an appropriate forum to enforce laws and resolve disputes. If fairness and impartiality were not inherent to the system, the courts would ultimately cease to exist as citizens would have no trust and belief they were being treated objectively and without bias and prejudice. If elected as judge, I would absolutely bring these qualities to my position. I have been on the bench as a magistrate and have had many opportunities to put these qualities into action. I have heard and decided many cases in a fair and impartial manner with appropriate respect and regard for the individual rights and privileges each court participant deserves and receives when they have and will appear before me. Treating each court participant as the individual that they are and applying the law fairly and appropriately is essential. Riddle: Fairness and impartiality are not only essential qualities for any judge but required qualities. They are the foundation of public trust in the judicial system. Every person who appears in court deserves to know that their case will be heard without bias or preconceived judgment. When elected, I will uphold these principles by treating all parties equally, strictly following the law, applying the law consistently and making decisions based solely on the facts and the law. I am committed to maintaining independence, integrity and objectivity in every case. Q: What else would you like voters to know about you? Dusza: During my tenure as magistrate and court administrator for Judge McGookey in common pleas court, I have successfully written and was awarded a grant from the Supreme Court of Ohio to upgrade the court's case management system for probate cases. An award of $150,000 was granted to our court to upgrade a case management system that had not been upgraded since 1991 and was essentially an obsolete system. The system now allows remote access to public users, thereby increasing transparency and accessibility to the court. Additionally, I was part of a team of people who wrote a grant to obtain funds to establish and run an assisted outpatient treatment program, which seeks to assist persons in the community who are diagnosed with a severe mental illness. The goal of (an assisted outpatient treatment program) is to keep participants from being hospitalized for their mental illness, minimize contact with law enforcement, minimize days in jail and maintain compliance with medication and treatment. I am the presiding judicial officer for the (assisted outpatient treatment) program, and the program has shown much success and growth in the approximate 18 months it has been in existence. In addition to handling one third of the felony case load in the common pleas court which is shared equally with judges (Tygh) Tone and (Roger) Binette, the judicial position at issue handles virtually all of the probate matters to include estate administration, guardianships, adoptions, mental health commitments, name changes and marriage licenses amongst many other matters. On a sheer number basis, these cases comprise approximately 75% of our case load not inclusive of marriage licenses. On a daily basis, I handle many of these matters which position me as the most experienced and most qualified candidate to address the probate matters as well as the criminal matters that come before the court. Riddle: I work day and night for my clients, which routinely exceeds 50 hours a week. I will bring this same work ethic with me as judge. I'm deeply committed to serving the community and strengthening confidence in the judicial system. I believe in clear communication from the bench, respect for all participants in the courtroom and continuous learning to stay informed on evolving legal issues. I ask for your vote this Republican primary.