Meet Your Neighbor: Michael Kemerer is ready for his new role

Seventeen years ago, Mansfield’s first assistant law director in the Criminal Division made Richland County his home. Last month, voters elected him as Mansfield Municipal Court judge.

Meet your neighbor, Michael J. Kemerer.

“I’ve now spent almost as much time here as I did in my parents' house growing up,” said Kemerer. “This is unquestionably my home.”

Hailing from Paulding County in the northwest corner of Ohio, Kemerer is thrilled to call Richland County home. He will end his post as first assistant law director before he takes the bench on Jan. 1.

“This is where I met my wife and we’re raising our son,” he said. “I am just God-blessed that this county saw fit to put me on the bench and continue the good work that I’ve already been doing in this office.”

Kemerer will succeed Judge Jerry Ault, who is retiring at the end of the month after 24 years as judge.

“I’ve gotten to work for Judge Ault the entirety of my time being here. I’ve seen what works,” he stated.

The changing of the guard won’t alter or change specialty dockets, as Kemerer wants to continue those programs.

“Judge Ault is the motivating force behind our current specialty dockets. Those are the intensive treatment probation dockets. There’s a mental health court, a veterans court, a drug court, a domestic violence court," he noted.

Kemerer said for the past 17 years he has been "the first person in the door, last person to leave in the law director's office," and became used to taking late-night phone calls. He vows to continue doing both while serving on the bench.

During his tenure in the law director's office, Kemerer saw the importance of working with law enforcement.

“When the police can do their job better, whether it's the law director giving the proper advice or the judge efficiently signing a warrant, they can do their job better and people can be made safer," he said.

Kemerer is committed to making a difference in his "adopted" home.

“There was the place I was born, but this is my home,” he said. “It is very much my adopted county and I’m just happy to be here to make a difference. Honestly, I was fortunate to find my way here because I think I can make a bigger difference here than I ever could have in Toledo or back home where I grew up.”

Correspondent Joe Di Lullo can be reached at muckrack.com/dilulloj or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Michael Kemerer to become Mansfield Municipal Court judge on Jan. 1