Recent News

January 29, 2010

Domestic Court Loses Veteran Magistrate

Don Martin, Chief Magistrate of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Division, will retire January 31 after 28 years. Martin’s career spans 35 years of public service, including the Air Force, the Franklin County Public Defender’s Office, and the Court of Common Pleas. Since being hired in 1982, Martin has been an ally to the Columbus Bar, participating in various Columbus Bar Task Forces, speaking at CLE programs, and as a willing teacher and presenter at Columbus Bar committee meetings.

Martin’s dedication to the Columbus Bar and the local legal profession earned him the Award of Merit in 2004. The sentiments espoused in the speech honoring Martin five years ago, still ring true today:

“…they call Don Martin the ‘go to guy,’ someone you’d like to have as a neighbor, and an invaluable asset to the Court, its Judges and Magistrates, the attorneys who practice before it, and the public who seek justice there.

…Don …spearheaded a comprehensive overhaul of the Court’s Local Rules…an effort that ultimately revised all but 5 of about 70 Rules. Important changes were made to the attorney appointment process, to ensure that clients are represented at the initial stage of their Court process while fairly distributing appointments to the 200 attorneys on the list.

…He is a stellar employee of the Franklin County Court System, a man whose competence and commitment makes the administration of justice more effective for clients and attorneys.”