Robert's Approach

Fairness begins with an open mind.

A judge must approach each case with an open mind, respect for the law, and fairness to everyone involved. The court should listen before deciding, consider the facts, read the filings, respect the process, and apply the law without favoritism, assumptions, or preconceived notions.

Robert believes that open-mindedness is especially important for a judge. Lawyers write briefs for a reason. Parties present evidence for a reason. People deserve to be heard before a decision is made.

Details matter in Probate Court.

Probate matters often turn on careful facts, documents, deadlines, fiduciary duties, and statutory requirements. A missed detail can affect families, property, beneficiaries, creditors, and fiduciaries.

In Probate Court, details matter. The court’s decisions can have real legal and practical consequences for families, seniors, heirs, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and others affected by its work. Those consequences should be carefully considered, with attention to the facts, the filings, and the law.

Clear expectations help everyone.

Robert believes the court should be transparent and consistent. Clear expectations help attorneys advise their clients. They help fiduciaries understand their responsibilities. They help families know what to expect. And they help reduce unnecessary delay, duplicated work, and avoidable expense.

Guidance can be helpful. Recommended procedures can make the process easier. But local practice should not create unnecessary complexity when the Ohio Revised Code and Supreme Court rules already provide the governing framework.

Respect matters, especially when people are under stress.

People often come to Probate Court during stressful or emotional moments. They may be grieving, worried about a loved one, trying to understand a fiduciary duty, or dealing with a legal process they have never encountered before.

The court should be respectful, patient, and clear. It should not make a difficult situation more confusing than it needs to be.

Grounded in Ohio Law

Robert believes Probate Court practice should be guided first by the Ohio Revised Code, the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Rules of Superintendence. Local rules and established procedures can provide useful guidance and consistency, but local custom should not become more important than the law itself.

Generally speaking, what works lawfully in one Ohio county should work in another. A procedure should not be rejected merely because it differs from the customary practice of a particular court. When an attorney proposes a method that complies with Ohio law and gives every interested person adequate notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard, the attorney should be afforded reasonable flexibility to administer the matter in the way the attorney believes is most appropriate.

The court should not attempt to manage every estate according to a single preferred method. Its role should be to work constructively with attorneys, identify legitimate legal or procedural concerns, and help ensure that matters proceed lawfully, smoothly, and efficiently. When a genuine concern exists, the court should explain it clearly and provide a reasonable opportunity to address it.

A Fair Opportunity to Be Heard

Robert believes contested matters deserve careful consideration of the facts, the law, and the arguments presented by everyone involved. The court should read the parties’ briefs, listen with an open mind, and decide the matter based on the record and the governing law.

Sometimes a judge may identify an issue of fact or law that the parties have not fully addressed. When that issue may determine the outcome, Robert believes counsel ordinarily should be given an opportunity to provide supplemental briefing before the court enters a decision based on a theory that neither party anticipated or had a fair opportunity to discuss.

Robert also recognizes that an attorney appearing before the court may know more than the judge about a particular statute, transaction, factual setting, or specialized area of practice. A judge should have the humility to recognize that possibility, the patience to consider every properly presented argument, and the willingness to remain open to being persuaded. That approach serves the court, the attorneys, and – most importantly – the people whose rights and responsibilities are being decided.

The role of a judge is different.

A judge is not a legislator, advocate, or political decision-maker. A judge must follow the law, consider the facts, and decide matters fairly. That means a judicial campaign must be different too.

Robert will not make promises about how any case, controversy, or issue should be decided. His commitment is to fairness, preparation, independence, and respect for the law.

The Probate Court should not be a mystery.

Courts can be intimidating, especially for people who have never been involved in a legal matter before. Robert believes public information about the Probate Court should be practical, respectful, and easy to understand.

Helping residents understand estates, guardianships, adoptions, name changes, marriage licenses, fiduciary duties, and the court's public responsibilities can strengthen confidence in the court and help voters understand why the office matters.