Ohio Bar honors Judge Howard Harcha III and the Adams County Common Pleas Court's 'Operation: Better Together' program

In recognition of judicial excellence and innovation, Ohio State Bar Association 2025-2026 President Bill Chris presented the 2025 Thomas J. Moyer Award for Judicial Excellence to Scioto County Common Pleas Court Judge Howard “Hank” Harcha III and the 2025 Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award to “Operation: Better Together” at the Adams County Court of Common Pleas, led by Judge Brett Spencer. Both awards were presented as part of the Ohio Judicial Conference annual meeting at the Hilton Easton Columbus on Sept. 12.  

Thomas J. Moyer Award for Judicial Excellence 

The Moyer award was established in 2010 by the Ohio State Bar Association (Ohio Bar) in honor of the late chief justice, who was posthumously given the inaugural award. It seeks to recognize a current or former Ohio state or federal judge in the Moyer mold, who displays outstanding qualities of judicial excellence including integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, professionalism, ethics, creativity, sound judgment, courage and decisiveness.  

Judge Howard “Hank” Harcha III has honorably served the people of Scioto County for more than 34 years, first on the bench of the Portsmouth Municipal Court, and since 1997, as judge of the Scioto County Court of Common Pleas.

“Humble,” “devoted to the greater good,” “a trusted and balanced source of judicial advice and counsel” and “thoughtful in all he does” are ways in which his many admirers have described his distinguished career, and traits he has carried well beyond the borders of his own community.

Judge Harcha has worked to enhance the relationship between the bench and bar, having served in countless leadership roles with the Ohio Bar, the Ohio Judicial Conference, the Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Judges Association and the Common Pleas Judges Association, as well as the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation — the organization which nominated him for this award and where he currently serves as board secretary.

“We recognize Judge Harcha not only for his work to ensure legal services are available for those most in need, but for a career-long and inspiring commitment to the rule of law and the administration of justice,” said President Chris. 

Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award

The Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award, sponsored by the Ohio Bar Judicial Administration and Innovation Committee, seeks to highlight and bring greater visibility to exemplary programs in Ohio’s courts and to facilitate the transfer of those programs to other jurisdictions. Award submissions are evaluated on criteria including creativity, the newness of the program, its effectiveness and whether the program addresses significant issues that are regional in scope.  

For this year’s honoree, the name says it all. “Operation: Better Together,” led by Judge Brett Spencer, is a community collaborative effort through which the Adams County Court of Common Pleas has built strong bridges between local agency and community partners to raise awareness and better connect vulnerable, at-risk and justice-involved populations with a wide array of wraparound services they need to get back on their feet and achieve lifelong success.

The beauty of it is there has been no additional cost to the community to implement the program, just better coordination and alignment among the courts, probation, law enforcement, schools, workforce development, the local health department, behavior and substance use disorder treatment providers and other relevant agencies and community organizations to ensure no one falls through the cracks.

President Chris said: “Serving a small, rural community facing high rates of poverty and residents who struggle with drug abuse and mental illness, that common-sense resourcefulness of Judge Spencer and his team has saved lives and provides a model for other courts and counties.” 

Founded in 1880, the Ohio Bar is the state’s largest legal network, representing attorneys, judges, legal professionals and law students. The Ohio Bar is committed to promoting justice and advancing the legal profession.