This piece was submitted by Mary Lynne Birck, who is one of the Republican primary candidates for the Twelfth District Court of Appeals.
Mary Lynne Birck: An attorney in the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office for 25 years, Mary Lynne has represented clients in hundreds of matters in both federal and state courts as well as administrative agencies. Importantly, Mary Lynne has demonstrated competence in the Twelfth District Court of Appeals, having represented clients in 19 cases. One opponent has appeared before the Twelfth District in only one case; another in only five. 
Mary Lynne’s most recent case in the Twelfth District was successfully representing the Clermont County Board of Elections in December 2019. None of her opponents have had an appeal decided by the Twelfth District since 2008.
She has enjoyed success in probate, domestic relations, common pleas courts in a wide variety of cases (i.e. contracts, personal injury, construction, employment, workers comp, mental illness, abuse/neglect/exploitation of elderly, children and the developmentally disabled) — matters which the appellate courts decide.
Mary Lynne is endorsed by the Clermont County Republican Party and many individuals. Unlike her opponents, she will not seek endorsements from special interest groups or accept money/resources from political action committees. While she respects the role of these organizations, she prefers to highlight endorsements from those clients, former clients, attorneys (co-counsel and opposing counsel) who know her work firsthand.
Her campaign slogan: Integrity, Impartiality and Independence.
She emphasizes that, for her, being an appellate judge is not a consolation prize for failing to get an appointment and is not a stepping stone to the federal bench. Few cases are heard by the Supreme Court of Ohio therefore the appellate court is tremendously important — “the last stop” for most cases. A judge who is not truly interested in the work of the Court would be a great disservice to those who seek redress from the Court.
She holds a license to carry concealed in Ohio.
Mary Lynne is a proud graduate of St Ursula Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio (1984) where she returned to teach religion; the College of the University of Chicago (1988, with honors); the University of Cincinnati, College of Law (1994, full scholarship).
A life-long resident of the District, she and her husband of 25 years, John, and four rescue dogs live on 26 wooded acres in New Richmond.
For more information, please see Birck4judge.com or the Facebook page Mary Lynne Birck for Judge.