Starting Tuesday, the Governor’s office will begin filling judicial vacancies around the state –– including one in Athens County.
After serving as Athens County Common Pleas judge for 20 years, Michael Ward, 66, retired Monday, creating a vacancy that isn’t expected to be filled for at least a month.
Ward said he is just one of many judges around the state who are retiring now because of new legislation that alters the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System.
Currently, retired public employees receive a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment to their pension every 12 months; however, the new legislation replaces the yearly adjustment with an annual pension increase reflecting change in CPI that cannot exceed 3 percent.
Ward said that because he has been a public employee most of his life, it makes sense for him to retire now before the change takes effect on January 7.
“I’ve had 41 years of public service that hasn’t been limited to serving as a judge,” he said. “This includes service in the Army, serving as an assistant prosecuting attorney, being a public aide and serving as prosecuting attorney after I was elected in 1980.”
sh334311@ohiou.edu
