Common pleas judges preside over civil claims, criminal cases and agency appeals in jury and non-jury trials.
Driscoll, who won a contested Republican primary for the seat, has worked as an attorney for nearly 20 years and is the assistant prosecuting attorney for the Champaign County Prosecutor’s Office.
“I’m absolutely, super excited,” Driscoll said. “And I’m really proud of all we have done to get here. I can’t wait for Jan. 3.”
He said wanted to thank his family, whom he said was his biggest support group throughout his campaign.
Driscoll has also worked as an appointed Clark County Municipal Court judge, assistant prosecuting attorney for the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office and a general practice attorney for four years. He is a graduate of Tecumseh High School and the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Western Michigan.
Richards ran on her 16 years of civil and criminal litigation experience in Ohio Common Pleas courts. She has lived and worked in Clark County for 8 years. Richards graduated from The Ohio State University and from the Cooley Law School in Western Michigan.
Richards is also a veteran, honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 2000. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the seat.
“God bless Clark County and all the people that supported me on this journey,” Richards said Tuesday night.
Lancaster grew up in Enon and has called Springfield home for several years. He’s a graduate of the University of Dayton school of law, Wittenberg University and Greenon High School.
Aside from his work as an attorney, a career he’s had for 35 years, he is also the founder of the Springfield Tutoring Academy, which specializes in helping children with learning disabilities access after-school tutoring. The academy is a nonprofit he started after struggling to access resources for his child, who was diagnosed with dyslexia years back.
Lancaster said he’s grateful to voters, volunteers, clients, friends and family that supported him throughout his campaign.
“Clark County is fortunate to have a history of judiciary excellence. I hope that the next judge will work tirelessly to maintain that tradition,” Lancaster said Tuesday. “I will continue to do my part to make Clark County an exceptional place to live.”
Clark County has three Common Pleas judges: retiring Judge Richard O’Neill and Judge Douglas Rastatter in its general division, and Thomas Capper with domestic relations.
Rastatter ran for re-election for his judicial seat uncontested this election season, taking home 29,999 votes.
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