Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the appointment of Republican attorney Elizabeth Ellis to the general division of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas serving the community of Montgomery County.
Judge-designee Ellis (pictured above) from Dayton, Ohio, is an assistant prosecutor at the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office. She has held this position since 2021. Ellis previously headed the civil section for the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for 19 years. She has also held positions with the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as the juvenile division’s chief appellate counsel and director.
She graduated with a bachelor of arts from Denison University in 1997 and a juris doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law in 2001.
Ellis will be taking the seat formerly held by Judge Mary Kate Huffman, who voters elected to the Second District Court of Appeals. Ellis will have to run for election in November 2024 to retain the seat for the term expiring July 1, 2027. She will assume office on June 20th.
Ellis told The Ohio Star that the governor’s appointment is a privilege and an honor. She also said that she will give the people in her community the justice they deserve.
“It is a privilege. I am so honored by the Governor’s confidence in me and I take this honor very very seriously. I am going to do everything in my power to harbor his faith and confidence in me. It really is the greatest professional acknowledgment that someone could receive. I am very grateful he has acknowledged my hard work over the years and has faith in me. I will hold the office with integrity and give the people of Montgomery County the justice they deserve,” Ellis told The Star.
Ellis was sworn into her new position on Tuesday, June 13th in the Keller Hall Courtroom at the University of Dayton School of Law, where she had her law school orientation not long after the building first opened.
The alma mater congratulated Ellis on the new appointment by DeWine to the Montgomery County Common Please Court.
“Congratulations to Elizabeth Ellis ’01 on being appointed as a judge with the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court,” Dayton School of Law said.
The Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas hears cases involving such matters as real estate, personal injury, breach of contract, marital conflicts, and business relationships. This court also hears all criminal felony cases since municipal and county courts have limits for misdemeanor offenses.
The court currently consists of 10 Judges and 1 Magistrate. Ellis will be the 11th judge on the bench.
– – –
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 “Elizabeth Ellis” by Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck, Jr. Background Photo “Ohio Statehouse” by tlarrow. CC BY-SA 2.0.
