Kennedy sworn in as Decide for the Logan County Court docket of Widespread Pleas, Household Division (Audio included)

Judge Natasha Kennedy was sworn in as a judge on Monday afternoon on the Logan County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division.

A crowded crowd of family members, friends, and community leaders attended the ceremony at the Logan County Courthouse.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the appointment of Kennedy on July 16.

Logan County’s Veterans Commissioner Timothy Shaw led the participants in the pledge of allegiance.

The board of governors was introduced by Barb McDonald, the Logan County’s clerk.

Kennedy received the oath of office from retired Judge Dan Bratka after welcoming and remarks from Judge Kim Kellogg-Martin and Ohio Supreme Court Justice Patrick Fischer.

The blessing was provided by Pastor Steve Merrin of the First United Presbyterian
Church.

Kennedy’s husband Andy Kennedy (Bellefontaine Police Sergeant) and their two sons attended the ceremony.

Kennedy has served as Magistrate in the Logan County Common Pleas Court in the Family Justice Department since August 2019. She has chaired over 1,000 Family Court cases, including cases from the Domestic Relations, Youth, and Probate Divisions. She also presided over the family court’s technical file.

The specialized file of the family court is the family treatment court. It is an Ohio Supreme Court licensed drug court with participants in cases pertaining to Logan County’s children’s services.

Prior to her tenure on the Family Treatment Court, Kennedy headed the Adult Recovery Court for Judge William T. Goslee. She oversaw the program for many adults in the criminal justice system dealing with drug addiction and mental health problems.

In September, Kennedy received an award and proclamation from the Logan County Commissioners and May of Bellefontaine making September Logan County’s National Recovery Month.

In her previous position, she served as Magistrate at Logan Common Pleas Court, General Division, from November 2017 to August 2019. Kennedy also served as an Assistant County Prosecutor in Logan County. She has served Logan County for the past seven years.

Kennedy received her law degree from the University of Akron School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University.

Kennedy is the ruling elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Bellefontaine, a former president of the Kiwanis Club of Bellefontaine, where she now serves on the board of directors. She is also a board member of Discovery Riders, the local horse therapeutic center. Kennedy is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Association of Magistrates, and the Ohio Child Support Enforcement Agency Directors’ Association. She served on the Logan County Community Action Planning Board and the Law Library Resources Board. She volunteers at local schools, the United Way of Logan County, and the Ohio Attorney General’s Mental Health Task Force. She is a 2019 graduate of the JoAnn Davidson Leadership Institute.

Hear Kennedy talk about her new role.

“I am passionate about helping Logan County’s children and families. Children, including those affected by Logan County Family Court, are the future of our community. I look forward to continuing to serve my community in this new role as Family Court Judge, ”said Kennedy.

Kennedy must run for election in November 2022 to keep the office.