In the Struthers Municipal Court judicial race, the Mahoning County Bar Association deemed challenger James Melone “highly recommended” for the job while incumbent Jennifer J. Ciccone is “not recommended.”

The bar association, through a poll of its membership, makes recommendations in judicial races. The results shouldn’t be characterized as an endorsement of candidates, the bar association wrote in a statement.

But there is an obvious difference between being highly recommended and not recommended. The only other rating by the bar association is recommended.

A judicial candidate must get highly recommended votes by at least 75% of polled bar association members to get that ranking. Those who get more than 50% not recommended votes by the participating members get that ranking. To be recommended, a candidate must have at least 50% recommended and highly recommended votes.

The attorneys who are polled are asked to judge the candidates on legal knowledge, professional experience, judicial temperament, integrity, diligence and professional responsibility, according to the bar association.

Ciccone of Poland couldn’t be reached Friday to comment on the bar association’s rating.

Melone of Poland, a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court magistrate, said he was “honored” to receive the bar association’s highest recommendation. “This vote is reflective of my approach with parties, clients and counsel through my 26-year legal career,” he said. “To have this vote cast by my peers is certainly appreciated.”

The court’s jurisdiction is Struthers, Lowellville, New Middletown, Springfield Township and Poland village and township.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Sept. 29 that Ciccone, the Republican nominee for the seat, would fill the vacant seat, effective Oct. 6. The position was officially empty Sept. 29 with the resignation of Dominic R. Leone III, who had lost the Democratic primary to Melone. Leone’s term was to expire Dec. 31.

Municipal court judicial candidates run in partisan primaries and then run without a party label in the general election in Ohio.

When her appointment was announced, Ciccone said she was asked four days before DeWine’s announcement by Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman Dave Johnson if she would be interested in DeWine making her the judge. She said yes and had a video conference with some members of the governor’s screening committee two days later. She was told the next day that she was getting the appointment and the announcement was made the day after that.

It was an unusual move for DeWine as his office had indicated when it received Leone’s resignation on Sept. 19 that the governor would not appoint a replacement. That changed shortly after Johnson, who is highly influential among statewide Republicans, spoke to DeWine about Ciccone’s appointment.

DeWine has in place a process for appointing judges that usually takes months because of a deadline for applicants, screening committee interviews, background checks and a recommendation to the governor.

The bar association also deemed Carla Baldwin, the incumbent Youngstown Municipal Court judge, as “highly recommended.” She is running unopposed in the Nov. 7 election.

The two candidates in the Campbell Municipal Court judge’s race — city Law Director Brian J. Macala and Mark Kolmacic, a former law director — were both “recommended” by the bar association.

That court’s jurisdiction is Campbell and Coitsville.

dskolnick@vindy.com