Toledo Municipal Court Judge to Offer Insider Perspective on Justice System to ONU Law Students

ADA, Ohio – Toledo Municipal Court Judge Michelle Wagner will kick off Ohio Northern University College of Law’s spring lecture series on Tuesday, March 1 with a talk titled, “A View from the Bench.” Her free, public presentation will begin at 11 a.m. in Tilton Hall of Law, Room 129.

Wagner will divulge what it’s like to be a municipal court judge in the Glass City, and she’ll explore the misconceptions and realities of Ohio’s municipal courts — from plea bargaining to compassionate care — all in the name of justice.

Since her election to Toledo Municipal Court in 2011, Judge Wagner has proven to be persuasive, convincing the law department to assign special prosecutors to domestic to domestic violence cases and establishing a waiting room within the courthouse for victims of domestic violence. These bold actions ensure victims of domestic violence have a safe and secure place to wait until their case is ready in the courtroom; preventing the defendant from harassing or intimidating victims as they wait in the public hallway.

Judge Wagner is an active member of the Toledo, Lucas County, and Ohio State Bar Associations. She has served for six years on the Domestic Violence Advisory Committee to the Ohio Supreme Court, overseeing a major statewide overhaul of the issuance, accessibility, and enforceability of Temporary Protection Orders and post-conviction No Contact Orders.

She attended The University of Toledo College of Law, serving as law clerk for the Honorable Thomas J. Osowik, and received her bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University.

Judge Wagner currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Walbridge MetroParks Toledo. Prior board memberships include Parents Helping Parents and Project I Am. Judge Wagner and her husband, David, are the proud parents of three sons.