Assistant prosecutor becomes magistrate

Cortland resident takes over as Niles grad moves to court in Youngstown

WARREN -- A longtime magistrate will be leaving the Trumbull County courthouse and headed to Youngstown, being replaced by a Cortland resident who spent seven years as an assistant prosecutor.

Ashleigh J. Musick was appointed magistrate to the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas General Division, and took the oath Tuesday. Musick will be taking over the duties of Beth Aurillio, handling some cases for Judges Ronald J. Rice and Andrew D. Logan.

Aurillio, a Niles McKinley and Youngstown State University graduate, has been in that position for 15 years. Her last day is Wednesday, and she will become the administrator for the Seventh District Court of Appeals in Youngstown.

"I am truly excited for this new opportunity at the Seventh District Court of Appeals," Aurillio said. "However, I have enjoyed my time here at the Common Pleas General Division and I have learned a great deal from each of our four well-respected judges. Judge Logan and Judge Rice have been mentors in my professional career over the past 14 years-plus and they have each provided excellent examples of judicial integrity and fairness."

A graduate of University of Akron Law School, Aurillio received a certification as a court manager in August 2019.

Aurillio said after passing the bar she started with the Rice law firm and had worked with Rice's wife, Cynthia, at the 11th District Court of Appeals in 2006-07 before becoming magistrate.

"I am proud of the great technological strides we have made at the court over my tenure, including e-filing for civil cases, check-in kiosks, and an upcoming jury orientation video. We made each of these changes with a constant eye toward maintaining access to justice for everyone who comes before the court," Aurillio said.

NEW CHALLENGES

Musick, meanwhile, also looks forward to her new challenges.

"I am very excited about this opportunity," Musick said. "It will be a challenging position but I am always eager to learn. I love the challenge."

She graduated from Ohio Northern University in 2011 with a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice. In 2013, She obtained her master of science Degree from Tiffin University. She then graduated with her juris doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2015.

While in her second year of law school, Musick began working for the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office in 2014. Upon passing the bar, she worked in the appellate division, later becoming chief of that division.

"The entire staff of attorneys and administrative staff (in the prosecutor's office) were amazing to work with. I learned so much from them over the years, especially LuWayne Annos, who ran the appellate division before me and who mentored me when I started as an intern," Musick said.

Musick said her best experiences were two arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court, getting to work with the attorney general's office and solicitor general.

"Every day of the seven-plus years there was memorable. Every time I got to step foot in the courtroom was a great experience. I feel so fortunate that I had the opportunity to work with Prosecutor (Dennis) Watkins and his staff," she said. "They helped shape me into the attorney I am today."

Musick is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. She is also a member of the Trumbull County Bar Association serving as a co-chair of the mock trial committee and a member of the bar applicant's committee.

Musick has been married to her husband, Jeff, since 2015 and they have three children. She is also an adjunct professor at Thiel College in the Political Science department, a position she has held since fall 2020.

"I grew up watching 'Law & Order,' and I always wanted to be a prosecutor. I feel blessed that I got to live that dream for one of the best prosecutors in the country," Musick said.