Wood County Probate and Juvenile Court Judge Dave Woessner has announced his intent to seek re-election in the year 2020. Woessner filed his formal petitions to seek re-election on Nov. 22.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Wood County’s Probate and Juvenile Court Judge for nearly 21 years. As I promised on the day I took office, I will continue to work hard to insure the courts and its facilities are operated fairly and efficiently. The citizens of Wood County can be assured I will work tirelessly as their Probate and Juvenile Court judge.”
Woessner has been Wood County’s Probate and Juvenile Court Judge for nearly 21 years – taking office on Dec. 28, 1998. He is currently again serving as the presiding judge of the Wood County Common Pleas Court.
As part of his position, Woessner administers the Wood County Juvenile Detention Center and the Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio. A member of the Ohio Association of Probate Judges and the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges, Woessner has served for many years on the Ohio Juvenile Law and Procedure Committee.
Over the years, Woessner has instructed judges and magistrates from throughout Ohio for the Ohio Judicial Conference and in every year since taking office, has presented a free continuing legal education program for local attorneys and staff on probate and juvenile law and procedures.
During his time in office, Woessner has initiated or administered a wide variety of services, projects and programming benefiting the public and court users. The Probate and Juvenile Court websites initiated by Woessner early in his tenure now provide a wide variety of forms and information and each now contain an online docket. Electronic filing was introduced for the public dockets of the Juvenile Court in 2019.
The Probate Court’s Volunteer Guardian Program operating since 2011 provides assistance to individuals and families in need throughout Wood County. The Juvenile Court’s Court Appointed Special Advocate Program has achieved national accreditation and the Juvenile Detention Center and the Juvenile Residential Center have consistently received outstanding reviews.
Juvenile Court programming such as an Intervention and Diversion Program (began in 2018); a Safe and Healthy Sexuality Program (began in 2018); county wide community service work; the court’s theft offender’s program; gun safety awareness classes; and a wide range of other programs or services have been made available for the public and families involved with the Juvenile Court.
Woessner’s service in office has further been marked by conservative and efficient use of taxpayer resources. The expansion of the Wood County Juvenile Court Center completed in 2002 was finished nearly $400,000 under budget. In addition, consistently over the years, the Probate and Juvenile Courts have returned significant sums of appropriated monies to the general fund of Wood County.
Prior to taking office, Woessner served as a magistrate in the Wood County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. He also served as both a chief assistant and assistant prosecuting attorney in the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office handling cases ranging from capital murder to misdemeanor level offenses.
Woessner was also a partner in the private law firm of Middleton, Roebke and Woessner and served as an acting judge in the Bowling Green Municipal Court. He is a past president of the Wood County Bar Association and past chairman of the Wood County Bar Association Ethics, Grievance, and Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee.
Woessner also has a long history of recognized community involvement. He has been actively involved in a wide variety of organizations and activities. His longtime support of countywide DARE programs earned him the 2009 Ohio Honorary DARE Officer Award. He has also been recognized for his collaborative leadership and efforts by the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, the Ohio Educational Service Association, and the Wood County Gang Task Force.
Woessner and his wife Joan have been married for 33 years. They have two adult children, both graduates of Bowling Green High School.
