Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the appointment of Republican magistrate Nathan Shaker to the Wayne County Municipal Court.
Shaker, of Wooster, Ohio, will be taking the seat formerly held by Republican Judge Timothy VanSickle. To retain the seat, he must win the general election in November 2024. VanSickle is leaving the position as he was elected to the Wayne County Court of Common Pleas. Shaker will assume office on May 1st.
In January, the Wayne County Republican Party heard from two candidates to consider replacing VanSickle: Shaker and Russell Long, Republican magistrate of Crawford County. After multiple executive sessions, the central committee voted to unanimously recommend Shaker (pictured above) to DeWine as the next municipal judge to replace Vansickle.
Wayne County GOP Chair Doug Deeken told The Ohio Star this appointment is welcome news.
“The Wayne County Republican Party unanimously recommended Nathan Shaker to the governor for consideration of this appointment. The way the court is currently structured there are two judges but only one full-time magistrate. Nathan Shaker is currently that full-time magistrate. Thus, it makes good sense to promote from within the magistrate who is already familiar with the court, personnel, and local practices. Additionally, we appreciate the governor’s timeliness in this appointment since there is a filing deadline with the Wayne County Board of Elections on May 1st for who will run to fill this judicial seat’s unexpired term,” Deeken told The Star.
Shaker said he believes that with his vast legal experience, he is the best person to replace VanSickle and be the next municipal judge for the Wayne County Municipal Court.
“It sounds like a generic answer but I want to do this so I can help people on the ground level of the law, and hopefully, help them before they move on to something more serious,” Shaker said.
Shaker started his legal career as a law clerk in 2003 and has over 17 years of experience as a lawyer and nearly five as a magistrate.
He served as an associate lawyer with Gary Lieberman Co., L.P.A. in 2005. Shaker entered the public sector in 2006 when he was hired by the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as an associate prosecutor. After that, Shaker worked as the part-time corporate counsel for Richland Pediatrics and was a research associate for State and Federal Communications, Inc. Shaker returned to the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in 2012 and was elevated to the position of the first assistant prosecutor in 2015. His most recent position before the governor’s appointment to Wayne County Municipal Court judge was that of a magistrate and assistant court administrator with the Wayne County Municipal Court in 2018.
Shaker earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from John Carroll University in 2002. In 2005, the Case Western Reserve University School of Law awarded him his juris doctor. Additionally, he obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Cleveland State University.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Nathan Shaker” by Court News Ohio.
