Jerry Ault News Today

Six participants were honored during a Mansfield Municipal Veterans Court graduation ceremony Wednesday at the Mansfield FOP Lodge 32.

In 2009, the late Judge Jerry Ault formed the first Veterans Court in Ohio. It was developed to reduce crime, incarceration and recidivism.

Michael Kemerer was sworn in on Wednesday afternoon as a new Mansfield Municipal Court judge, beginning a new 6-year term Jan. 1.

The new judge said Mansfield sees about 20,000 municipal court cases each year, which he said is a great opportunity to help those in need.

Judge Jerry Ault told the News Journal the favorite part of his career has been "the people I have worked with and those people I have helped."

Two Lexington residents seek to become one of two new judges on the Mansfield Municipal Court -- David Badnell and M. Lore' Whitney.

Either Michael Kemerer or Cassandra Mayer will be the first new Mansfield Municipal Court judge in more than a decade.

City Council on Tuesday evening is expected to accept a $200,000 grant to help Mansfield Municipal Court operate its specialty courts.

The filing deadline for the May 2 primary election was 4 p.m. Wednesday. Richland County voters will consider a number of contested races.

Michael Kemerer has spent the past 16 years working in Municipal Court. Current Judges Jerry Ault and Frank Ardis cant run again due to age limits.