Judge McKenna seeks re-election to Hillsboro Municipal Court
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The Hon. Judge David H. McKenna has declared his candidacy for re-election as judge of the Hillsboro Municipal Court, seeking a third term on Nov. 8, 2011.
"When I first ran for office in 1999, I gave this statement why I was seeking the Municipal Court judge's position," McKenna said. "The Municipal Court is the people's court. It is where most citizens come in contact with the legal system. It is important for the Municipal Court judge to have experience to understand and the ability to listen to people and treat them fairly."
McKenna said he is "committed to this community."
"I want to serve my friends and neighbors in a way in which they will receive justice in the court, while maintaining the integrity of the office. These words are as true today as they were 12 years ago."
After presiding over 75,000 cases, McKenna said he is proud to stand on his record and has built a strong working relationship with the entire criminal justice community, including law enforcement, substance abuse and mental health counseling services, the office of re-entry services, the defense bar, and the probation department.
The Hillsboro Municipal Court was converted to a full-time court by the Ohio General Assembly in 2008. Prior to that, McKenna maintained a law practice in Hillsboro, which he began in 1991. He served as an assistant Highland County Prosecutor for both the Common Pleas and Juvenile Courts. He served five years in an administrative hearing office for the Department of Job and Family Services. Before moving to Ohio, McKenna was an assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, prosecuting felony crimes in Louisville, Ky. from 1986 to 1991.
McKenna graduated from the University of Louisville School of Law, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and attended the University of Kentucky School of Business. He is married to Lesia Langston McKenna, D.M.D., with whom he has two children, William, 18, and Alexandria, 14. The McKennas attend church at Good News Gathering, and he is an ordained elder and deacon of the Presbyterian Church.
He has served as past president of the Highland County Community Action Board of Governors and the Highland County Bar Association, and is a former member of the City of Hillsboro Civil Service Commission and the Tax Commission.
As a judge, McKenna serves on the Association of Municipal and County Judges Organization's Judicial Ethics Committee and the Single Court Judge Committee. He also serves on the Ohio Judicial Conference Criminal Law and Procedure Committee and the Community Corrections
Committee.
McKenna also serves as a mentor to new attorneys with the Supreme Court of Ohio's Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program and was recognized as the Alternatives to Violence Task Force's "Community Leader of the Year" for 2010.
Shortly after relocating to the Highland County Justice Center in 2001, McKenna established a court web site, "in order to maintain openness and accountability." According to McKenna, the site receives some 9,000 hits per month.
"I am honored that the voters of Highland County have allowed me to serve as Municipal Court Judge for the past two terms," McKenna said. "I am proud of the work that has been done and ask the community to allow me to serve as judge for one more term."[[In-content Ad]]
"When I first ran for office in 1999, I gave this statement why I was seeking the Municipal Court judge's position," McKenna said. "The Municipal Court is the people's court. It is where most citizens come in contact with the legal system. It is important for the Municipal Court judge to have experience to understand and the ability to listen to people and treat them fairly."
McKenna said he is "committed to this community."
"I want to serve my friends and neighbors in a way in which they will receive justice in the court, while maintaining the integrity of the office. These words are as true today as they were 12 years ago."
After presiding over 75,000 cases, McKenna said he is proud to stand on his record and has built a strong working relationship with the entire criminal justice community, including law enforcement, substance abuse and mental health counseling services, the office of re-entry services, the defense bar, and the probation department.
The Hillsboro Municipal Court was converted to a full-time court by the Ohio General Assembly in 2008. Prior to that, McKenna maintained a law practice in Hillsboro, which he began in 1991. He served as an assistant Highland County Prosecutor for both the Common Pleas and Juvenile Courts. He served five years in an administrative hearing office for the Department of Job and Family Services. Before moving to Ohio, McKenna was an assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, prosecuting felony crimes in Louisville, Ky. from 1986 to 1991.
McKenna graduated from the University of Louisville School of Law, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and attended the University of Kentucky School of Business. He is married to Lesia Langston McKenna, D.M.D., with whom he has two children, William, 18, and Alexandria, 14. The McKennas attend church at Good News Gathering, and he is an ordained elder and deacon of the Presbyterian Church.
He has served as past president of the Highland County Community Action Board of Governors and the Highland County Bar Association, and is a former member of the City of Hillsboro Civil Service Commission and the Tax Commission.
As a judge, McKenna serves on the Association of Municipal and County Judges Organization's Judicial Ethics Committee and the Single Court Judge Committee. He also serves on the Ohio Judicial Conference Criminal Law and Procedure Committee and the Community Corrections
Committee.
McKenna also serves as a mentor to new attorneys with the Supreme Court of Ohio's Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program and was recognized as the Alternatives to Violence Task Force's "Community Leader of the Year" for 2010.
Shortly after relocating to the Highland County Justice Center in 2001, McKenna established a court web site, "in order to maintain openness and accountability." According to McKenna, the site receives some 9,000 hits per month.
"I am honored that the voters of Highland County have allowed me to serve as Municipal Court Judge for the past two terms," McKenna said. "I am proud of the work that has been done and ask the community to allow me to serve as judge for one more term."[[In-content Ad]]