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Belfance and Wellemeyer joke post requires nerd-like, scholarly approach, near anonymity
By Phil Trexler
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Oct 11, 2008
There's a battle of so-called nerds being waged over a seat on the 9th District Court of Appeals.
Slide rulers and protractors aside, the contest pits attorney William D. Wellemeyer and Akron Municipal Judge Eve Belfance.
Appellate judges generally hear legal arguments on previously decided criminal and civil matters. The cases are then researched and a decision is rendered. The process takes months.
The candidates joke that the position requires a nerd-like, scholarly approach and an acceptance of near anonymity.
''I'm a book worm. I'm a nerd,'' Belfance said.
Wellemeyer acknowledged the same, but he maintains he's the more qualified when it comes to appellate work.
''What separates us is experience,'' he said. ''I'm not going negative. I'm talking facts.''
Wellemeyer said he has handled more than 250 appeals in state courts, primarily when he worked as an assistant Summit County prosecutor. His caseload has run the gamut from juvenile crimes to capital murder. He said Belfance has personally handled fewer than five.
He also worked as a judicial attorney, performing legal research for judges.
Wellemeyer, a Republican, was also a common pleas court mediator and court-appointed arbitrator.
He received an ''acceptable'' rating as a judicial candidate by the Akron Bar Association.
''I think there's a clear choice between a person with exceptional experience versus a person with limited exposure on the criminal and civil side,'' Wellemeyer said.
Belfance, a Democrat, touts her own experience, which she said is gained from her years of private practice, teaching law and her tenure in municipal court, where she has decided cases and crafted legal opinions.
She was elected judge in the Akron Municipal Court in 2005 and re-elected without opposition in 2007. Belfance said she played a large role in developing the court's DUI program.
Belfance said she handles about 2,700 cases a year in municipal court, while an appellate judge works about 300 cases a year. She said her appreciation of legal research has made the court of appeals a proper fit for her.
''At the end of the day, it's about justice and fairness and making sure that if something is incorrect, you right the wrong. That's compelling for me,'' Belfance said.
The Akron Bar Association gave her a ''highly Recommended'' rating.
The 9th District hears cases from four counties: Summit, Medina, Wayne and Lorain.
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.
EVE BELFANCE
Party: Democrat.
Age: 46.
Residence: Akron.
Family: Married, two children.
Occupation: Judge, Akron Municipal Court.
Political history: Ran unsuccessfully for appellate seat in 2004. Elected municipal judge in 2005; re-elected in 2007.
Web site: http://judgebelfance.com.
WILLIAM D. WELLEMEYER
Party: Republican.
Age: 50.
Residence: Akron.
Family: Married, three children.
Occupation: Attorney; former mediator, Summit County Common Pleas Court.
Political history: Ran unsuccessfully for appellate seat in 2004.
Web site: http://wellemeyerforjudge.com.
There's a battle of so-called nerds being waged over a seat on the 9th District Court of Appeals.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 07:57 PM, 10/11/2008
Belfance walks the talk.
Posted 11:52 PM, 10/11/2008
Bellfance is embellishing her career as a municipal judge. She handles misdemeanors and traffic offenses. Maybe once in a while a eviction. She has ran for Judge so many times and lost it isn;t funny. If she can;t even come clean over herself I seriously doubt she should be an appellate judge
