If I were asked why I believe Judge Joel Kuhlman is the right candidate, this would be my response.
As a former legal intern who gained experience at the Wood County Common Pleas Courthouse throughout my time in law school, I had the opportunity to observe the judges who served in the courthouse. I watched how they handled their criminal dockets, how they treated every person who stepped into their courtroom, and how much attention they paid to the details of each case. Judge Kuhlman is a textbook example of what it means to serve as a judge. And here are just a few reasons why:
Judge Kuhlman leads with humility.
He understands that his position carries an enormous responsibility, one he does not take lightly. He is a judge who is willing to listen, acknowledge mistakes, and treat every person who comes before him with dignity and respect. He understands that the authority of his position does not place him above the people who appear before him, but rather calls upon him to serve them with fairness and respect.
Judge Kuhlman is impartial.
He ensures that every person who comes before the court receives fair and unbiased consideration of their case. He remains open-minded, gives both sides an opportunity to be heard, and makes decisions based on the evidence and the law. He does not allow personal opinions or outside influences to overshadow his responsibility to uphold the law and administer justice fairly.
Judge Kuhlman is thoughtful and deliberate.
Whenever I walked into his criminal dockets, I knew what to expect. He maintained a schedule, respected the time of those appearing before him, and came prepared for each case. He was thoughtful in his decisions, whether he ruled from the bench or took a matter under advisement.
He carefully considered the facts and applied the law before reaching a conclusion. It was evident in the way he articulated his reasoning on the record and in his written decisions. He did not simply announce a ruling – he explained the reasoning behind it. That level of preparation, attention to detail, and willingness to carefully consider the matters before him demonstrated to me what it means to take the responsibilities of a judge seriously.
Judge Kuhlman has integrity. He does what is right, not what is easy.
Being a judge means making difficult decisions, and not every decision will be popular. But the responsibility of a judge is not to make decisions based on public opinion, personal preferences, or what might be easiest in the moment. It is to follow the law, weight the evidence, and have the courage to make the decision that is right.
Judge Kuhlman demonstrated to me the importance of approaching that responsibility with principle and consistency. Integrity means doing the right thing even when it is difficult, standing by the law even when a decision may not be well received, and remembering that every decision has real consequences for the people whose lives are affected by it.
Ultimately, what makes Judge Kuhlman the right candidate is not just one quality, but the combination of all four.
A judge must have the humility to listen, the impartiality to be fair, the thoughtfulness to make well-reasoned decisions, and the integrity to do what is right. And you may think, “Well, is that not how a judge is supposed to act?” Yes, yes it is. These qualities should be the standard, not the exception. But in today’s world, you’re not always guaranteed a textbook example of a judge when you walk into that courtroom.
Judge Kuhlman not only has these qualities, but he exemplifies them every single day. These are qualities I believe are essential to a good judge. And that is why, based on my own experience observing him in the courtroom, I believe Judge Kuhlman is the right candidate.
Hannah Fonseca
Bowling Green
