Some members of the Columbiana County judiciary welcome their newest member to the bench, county Municipal Court Judge Kelly Linger. Linger was administered her oath of office Monday by county Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton. Front from left, Seventh District Court of Appeals Judges Carol Robb and Katelyn Dickey, Linger, Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Tom Baronzzi, and back from left, retired county Municipal Court Judge Mark Frost, county Municipal Court Judge Tim McNicol, Juvenile Court Magistrate Doug King, Common Pleas Court Domestic Relations Magistrate Lynsey Lyle-Opalenik, and Bickerton. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

LISBON — Columbiana County Municipal Court Judge Kelly Linger said she’s looking forward to taking the bench for the first time today and administering justice fairly.

“I’m honored and excited that Gov. Mike DeWine chose me for this position,” she said Monday, shortly after reciting her oath of office in the courtroom where she’ll serve.

Linger was recently appointed by the governor to fill the unexpired term of Judge Katelyn Dickey, who resigned in April after being appointed to fill an opening on the Seventh District Court of Appeals. The unexpired term doesn’t end until Dec. 31, 2025, giving Linger some time on the bench before she has to run next year for a new six-year term.

Family members, friends, supporters and colleagues packed the courtroom for the swearing-in ceremony Monday afternoon, along with several members of the Columbiana County judiciary, including Dickey and fellow Seventh District Court Judge Carol Robb, who also formerly served as a judge of county Municipal Court.

Other judges on hand included county Municipal Court Judge Tim McNicol who will serve with Linger, retired county Municipal Court Judge Mark Frost who has been covering the court since Dickey left, county Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton, Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Tom Baronzzi, Juvenile Court Magistrate Doug King and Common Pleas Court Domestic Relations Magistrate Lynsey Lyle-Opalenik. Not present were Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam and Common Pleas Court Domestic Relations Magistrate J. Bradley Allison.

Bickerton administered the oath to Linger, saying she’s known her a long time. When she was taking the bar exam to become a lawyer, Linger was there too.

Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman David W. Johnson offered welcoming remarks, reading off Linger’s resume of experience in the law profession and adding “above all, Kelly has devoted her life to public service.”

Her brother-in-law, Brian Karmie, offered the invocation, and her daughter Liliana Bowyer and Cooper Derrington led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Scarlett Courtney sang the National Anthem, with Pastor Tim Ginter of the Church at the Center in Salem delivering the benediction.

Bickerton helped place the robe on Linger, who then thanked her family members for being there, saying “I love and appreciate you all.”

Linger thanked everyone present, offering special thanks to Johnson, her now former boss county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino and the man she called her mentor, Commissioner Mike Halleck.

An attorney who has practiced for 18 years in Columbiana County, Linger looked to the jury box where all the judges were seated and said, “I’ve witnessed decorum and justice from the finest examples.”

As an assistant prosecutor the last few years, focusing on child support enforcement, she said being a prosecutor is a noble profession. The majority of her time as an attorney, though, was spent as a defense attorney and she said it can be difficult. She described it as humbling.

“It teaches you the humility of law,” she said.

When the announcement came out about her being appointed, she heard from retired Common Pleas Court Judge David Tobin, who sent her a quote from Act 4 of Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice” that deals with mercy and justice.

“How justice must be tempered with mercy,” she explained.

She said she’ll be as fair and impartial as she can.

“I’m very excited to get started,” she said.

A Beaver Local High School graduate, Linger resides with her daughter in East Liverpool.

Linger’s law career began as an associate attorney for the law firm of Mark J. Obral and Associates in 2006. In 2008, she became an attorney for the Columbiana County Criminal Defense League, Inc. She became president of the not-for-profit corporation, Columbiana County Defense League, from 2018 to 2021. From 2014 to 2016, she served as the assistant law director and prosecutor for the village of Wellsville. From 2018 to 2019, she served as acting judge of the East Liverpool Municipal Court.

From 2007 to 2022, Linger owned a general practice law firm focusing on criminal defense, family law, custody disputes, and estate planning. Since 2021, she has served as an assistant prosecutor for Columbiana County.

Linger graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2001. She received her juris doctor from Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 2006.

Linger serves on the board of directors of the Columbiana County Memorial Park and is a member of the Columbiana County Bar Association.

mgreier@mojonews.com