An overflow capacity crowd of family, friends and colleagues gathered Monday afternoon at the Logan Courthouse to support new Logan County Family Court Judge Natasha Kennedy during her investiture ceremony as she was administered the oath of office for the position.
July 16, she was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to fill the term of Judge Dan W. Bratka, who retired Feb. 28, for the role within the Logan County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division.
Since August 2019, Kennedy has served as a magistrate at the Logan County Common Pleas Court, Family Court Division.
Accompanied by her husband, Sgt. Andy Kennedy of the Bellefontaine Police Department and their two children as she was administered the oath of office by Judge Bratka, Judge Kennedy told attendees that taking this step was fulfilling her dream that she had since she was 7 years old.
“It’s a privilege to represent the citizens of Logan County in this capacity. It’s a great responsibility and I’m excited to have this opportunity,” said the graduate of the University of Akron School of Law, who received her undergraduate degree from Ohio University.
“My passion is helping the children and families of Logan County. Children, including those impacted by Logan County Family Court, are the future of our community. I look forward to continuing to serve my community in this new capacity of Family Court Judge.”
Judge Kennedy must run for election in November 2022 to retain the office.
In prior positions serving Logan County for the past seven years, she was a magistrate for the Logan County Common Pleas Court, General Division, and was also an assistant county prosecutor at the Logan County Prosecutor’s Office. She thanked those mentors who provided their guidance to her in these former roles, and expressed appreciation to her parents, husband and family in attendance for all of the ways they made this opportunity possible as well.
Fellow Logan County Family Court Judge Kim Kellogg-Martin said she remembered meeting Judge Kennedy for the first time and related the impact that she’s had since beginning her work in the Logan County area.
“She immerses herself in this community. She is a proud Logan Countian,” Judge Kellogg-Martin said. “I never dreamt that she would have the chance to become a judge so quickly, but I believe with her energy, passion and commitment, threaded with common sense on the bench will serve her very well.”
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Patrick Fischer also provided welcoming remarks during the ceremony, explaining the 10 words of justice found in a reflecting pool at the Ohio Judicial Center, which includes: wisdom, integrity, peace, truth, justice, honor, reason, equity, compassion and honesty.
“I predict that Judge Kennedy has the characteristics to pin down these important traits in her courtroom,” he said.
In her most recent magistrate role, Judge Kennedy has presided over more than 1,000 cases in the Family Court, which includes cases from Domestic Relations, Juvenile and Probate Divisions. She also has presided over the Family Court specialized docket with the Family Treatment Court, an Ohio Supreme Court certified drug court with participants from cases in Logan County Children’s Services.
Prior to her service on the Family Treatment Court, she presided over the Adult Recovery Court for Judge William T. Goslee, overseeing the program for many adults in the criminal justice system dealing with drug addiction and mental health issues.
Sept. 26, 2019, she was presented with an award and proclamation from the Logan County commissioners and Bellefontaine mayor proclaiming September as National Recovery Month.
Her community involvement includes serving as a ruling elder at the First United Presbyterian Church of Bellefontaine, past president of the Bellefontaine Kiwanis Club, where she now is a member of the board of directors. Judge Kennedy also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Discovery Riders, a local therapeutic equine center.
She is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, Logan County Bar Association, Ohio Association of Magistrates and the Ohio Child Support Enforcement Agency Directors’ Association and has served with the Logan County Community Action Planning Board and the Law Library Resources Board.
A 2019 JoAnn Davidson Leadership Institute graduate, she volunteers with the local schools, United Way of Logan County and on the Ohio Attorney General’s Mental Health Task Force.
Following a pledge of allegiance during the ceremony led by Logan County Veteran Commissioner Timothy Shaw, the governor’s commission was presented by Logan County Clerk of Courts Barb McDonald. Pastor Steve Merrin of the First United Presbyterian Church conducted the benediction.