After practicing law for more than a decade and regularly appearing before judges throughout northwest Ohio, I have come to appreciate two qualities that define a good judge: consistency and fairness.
Consistency does not mean knowing how a judge will rule.
It means having confidence that, whether or not you agree with the decision, the judge has carefully considered the facts and applied the law according to established principles.
Fairness is equally important.
It requires a willingness to listen, consider the individual circumstances of each case, and exercise judgment without sacrificing impartiality.
A judge can be firm without being intimidating and fair without being lenient.
I regularly practice before Judge Joel Kuhlman in the Wood County Court of Common Pleas, where I have observed his approach to both consistency and fairness firsthand.
He is thoughtful in his application of the law and firm without sacrificing fairness. He understands that a judge can maintain authority while still treating people with patience and respect.
The law can be studied, and and experience can be gained, but fairness, humility, and sound judgment cannot be acquired though training and experience alone.
They are qualities of character that a judge must bring to the bench. Judge Kuhlman consistently demonstrates these traits in his courtroom.
My experience is not unique. In the Toledo Bar Association’s recent judicial poll, nearly 93% of attorneys who evaluated Judge Kuhlman rated him either “Highly Recommended” or “Recommended,” with 61.5% placing him in the highest category. Those results provide a meaningful perspective from members of the legal profession familiar with the demands of the job.
Judge Kuhlman’s commitment to young people extends beyond the courtroom. He provides law students with opportunities to gain practical experience and professional connections, while also educating Wood County high school seniors about the legal responsibilities of adulthood. By sharing his knowledge and investing his time in the next generation, he invests in the community as a whole.
There is no shortage of difficult decisions to be made in a courtroom. What matters is that those decisions are guided by consistent principles and made with fairness, sound judgment, and respect for the people affected by them.
Judge Kuhlman has consistently demonstrated these qualities, and that is why he has my vote.
Kati Tharp
Perrysburg
