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Longtime Trumbull judge leaving bench

WARREN — Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter J. Kontos, 68, announced his retirement from the bench effective July 31.

Kontos cited personal reasons for to his decision to pursue retirement before the end of his term in December 2026.

He has served as judge of the Trumbull County Common Pleas General Division since 1997. Prior to joining the bench, Kontos served as a Trumbull County assistant prosecutor. Kontos was re-elected in 2020, and his current term began in January 2021.

The common pleas court is working with the Ohio Supreme Court to secure a visiting judge, or judges, to cover the current docket until the judicial vacancy is filled.

Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has the final decision on replacing Kontos, a Democrat.

DeWine will consult with the Trumbull County Republican Party to get recommendations and accept applications for the seat, said Dan Tierney, the governor’s spokesman. DeWine’s in-house legal staff helps vet the candidates to find the best one, Tierney said.

Tierney acknowledged that Kontos’ replacement will almost certainly be a Republican, though there have been occasions when a county Republican Party recommended an independent for a judicial seat. “But a vast majority” of those appointed are Republicans, Tierney said.

It can take months for DeWine to make a decision, he said.

Including Kontos, all of the current common pleas judges in Trumbull County are Democrats. Also, Sean O’Brien, who is a judge-elect is a Democrat. He won the May 3 primary for the seat held by W. Wyatt McKay, who couldn’t run for re-election this year because of the state’s age-limit law for judges. O’Brien faces no opposition in the Nov. 8 election.

The person selected to replace Kontos would serve until the results of the November 2024 election are certified. The winner of that election would serve the remaining two years left on Kontos’ term.

“The Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas thanks Judge Kontos for his service to the court and to our community, and for his many contributions to the judicial field and the bar over the years,” Administrative Judge Andrew Logan said. “We wish Judge Kontos and his family nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

Kontos, like retiring Judge W. Wyatt McKay, had earlier worked as a chief prosecutor in Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins’ office.

“He worked with me on some big cases, including Danny Lee Hill and Kenneth Biros,” Watkins said.

Kontos will be missed, because he worked very hard. He was attentive, fair to both prosecutors and defense attorneys, and was able to quickly analyze legal facts, Watkins said. “It explains the fact that he became the president of the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association,” Watkins said.

Besides being highly accomplished as an attorney, a prosecutor and a judge, Watkins described Kontos as a person who loves his Greek heritage, his family and the United States. He also is a man who lives his religious belief and who lives the American dream.

“He has always been a very knowledgeable judge,” said County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker, who has worked as a prosecutor in Kontos’ court for 22 years.

“He has a wonderful grasp of the rules of ethics. He is a fair judge. He is considered a tough sentencer when a person goes through a trial and through the trial it is found the defendant did what he has been accused,” Becker said.

Defense Attorney Jeff Goodman was working as a bailiff when he met Kontos, who was then an assistant county prosecutor.

“He was a wonderful and effective trial lawyer,” Goodman said. “It was good to see him elected judge. It was a pleasure to practice in front of him.

“He is leaving big shoes to fill,” Goodman said. “He leaves a great legacy.”

rsmith@tribtoday.com

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