Judge Kathleen L. Giesler

Judge Kathleen L. Giesler is the judge of the Ottawa County Probate/Juvenile Court. She is the first woman to be elected to judicial office in Ottawa County. Prior to her election in 2002, Judge Giesler served as Magistrate of the Common Pleas Court, General Division, for twelve years. She has been active in numerous professional and
community organizations.

Legal Experience

• Judge, Ottawa County Probate/Juvenile Court Elected November 2002

• Magistrate, Ottawa County Common Pleas Court General Division, and Probate/Juvenile Divisions (1991-2003)

• Attorney, private practice of law (1983-1991)

• Former court reporter

Honors and Awards

• Community Builders Award, Oak Harbor Masons-Lodge 495, October 2007

• Honorary Member, Delta Kappa Gamma (Honor Society of Women Educators), April 2007

• Meritorious Service Award, Ohio Association of Probate Judges, June 2006

• CASA Appreciation Award September 2004

• Woodmore High School Hall of Fame, Distinguished Alumni Award
May 2004

• Public or Government Service Award Ohio State Bar Foundation, 2002

• Esquire Award “for outstanding service to the legal profession” Ottawa County Bar Association, 2002

• Community Partner Award Children’s Action Network, 2001

• Honorary 4-H Member of the Year Award Ottawa County 4-H Program, 2001

Professional Organizations

• Ohio Judicial Conference
Member of the Probate Law and Procedure Committee and the Juvenile Law and Procedure Committee

• Ohio Association of Probate Judges
First Vice President, Past secretary

• Ohio Association of Juvenile Judges
Past Member of Board of Trustees

• Amercian Judges Association

• Ohio State Bar Foundation Fellow

• Ohio State Bar Association
Member, Council of Delegates; Past Chair, Juvenile Law Committe; Past Chair, Screening Committee

• Ottawa County Bar Association
Past president

Other Professional Activities

Bowling Green State University, Firelands Campus, former instructor; Ohio Judicial College, faculty member; Family Mediation Services of Ottawa County, organizer of court-connected mediation program; Ottawa County Bar Association, coordinator of CLE programs and coordinator of school essay contest in observance of Law Day; Ohio Center for Law-Related Education, former co-coordinator of mock trial competition; Judge of county-wide fifth grade mock trial program; Speaker on law-related matters to local school districts.

Community Activities

Member of Community Education Advisory Committee for Benton-Carroll-Salem Schools; Local spokesperson for “Ohio Parent’s Week”; Founding Member, Trustee and Past Chairman of the Ottawa County 4-H Endowment program; Coordinator of mock trial training for 4-H camp counselors; Instructor of conflict resolution for 4-H advisors and local law enforcement; Keynote speaker for area churches and organizations; Church Council President; Member – Riverview Auxiliary, Ohio Farmer’s Union, Ottawa County Agricultural Society, Ottawa County Historical Society, Ohio Star Quilt Guild, Port Clinton Kiwanis Club.