BIG CITY EXPERIENCE. HOMETOWN VALUES.
PO Box 403, Caledonia, OH 43314
Marion, Ohio Court of Common Pleas January 1 term
Paid for by Friends of Edwards, Kelesta Edwards Treasurer
The Platform
CRIME AND OVERDOSES ARE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY DURING JUDGE EDWARDS FIRST TERM.
During Edwards term, crime rates have dropped in Marion. According to the police department's annual report, "from 2015 to 2021, aggravated burglaries and burglaries decreased by 80%, dropping from 464 cases in 2015 to 93 cases in 2021. Breaking and entering cases have decreased by 85%, from 325 in 2015 to 50 in 2021. Theft has decreased by 49%, according to police department statistics, from 957 cases in 2015 to 486 cases in 2021. The number of assault cases dropped from 255 in 2015 to 126 in 2021. Aggravated assault and felonious assault cases declined from 46 in 2015 to 27 in 2021." Additionally, the Marion Police Department recently informed the public that "crime numbers are down in the City of Marion in the first six months of 2024 compared to the prior year." M.P.D. released statistics show that in the first six months of 2024, there have been ZERO Murders or Manslaughters, there have been 10 fewer Aggravated Assault/Felonious Assault, 20 fewer Assaults, and 71 fewer acts of Domestic Violence than in first six months of 2023. Overdoses have also decreased. In 2024, there have been 9 weeks without a single overdose, fatal or non-fatal.
JUDGE EDWARDS IS INDEPENDENT AND FREE FROM POLITICAL INFLUENCE
Judge Edwards is an INDEPENDENT because partisan politics have no place in our legal system. Judge Edwards believes in personal accountability, real consequences for criminal conduct, equal application of the law, protecting the community, ensuring the rights of victims as well as the accused, and the judge’s duty to be free from political influence and to apply the law fairly and impartially. In Judge Edwards’ courtroom, it doesn’t matter who you are, who you know, how much money, power or influence you have in our community, or what political party you belong to. Judge Edwards rulings are based solely on the evidence and the law. Judge Edwards is free from political influence, the way a judge should be.
JUDGE EDWARDS FIRST TERM
As the senior Judge of Marion’s Common Pleas Court, Judge Edwards serves as the Administrative Judge. In this role he has brought the Marion County Courthouse in to compliance with Ohio Supreme Court security guidelines, by requiring all visitors to the courthouse to pass through a metal detector for the first time in Marion’s history, as well as implementing numerous other security procedures. Judge Edwards has also used the Administrative Judge role to ensure that those facing or being held on felony charges are no longer released due to jail overcrowding by revoking a 1999 “catch and release” order thereby ending the “revolving door” to Marion’s justice system. As Administrative Judge, he has also re-written the Local Rules of Court, appointed defense counsel for arraignment hearings to protect accused rights, adopted fax and e-filing, and brought many other updates to the court.
Additionally, as Administrative Judge, Edwards has secured more than $5.43 MILLION in total grant funds for the Marion Court system which help fund the Marion County Adult Probation, which has more than a one-million-dollar annual budget (down around a quarter million dollars since he took office). These grants help pay for all aspects of the everyday operations of the probation department including: drug tests, electronic house arrest monitoring, sober living housing, Narcotics Anonymous books, department vehicle maintenance, and probation officer salaries. Without these grants, local tax dollars would have to fund the necessary operations of the probation department.
Judge Edwards also has a great interest in the history of Marion’s Courthouse, which was built in 1884. Judge Edwards has spearheaded numerous restoration projects in the historic building, and frequently gives tours of the building to various community groups.
Judge Edwards also runs both of the Common Pleas Court’s specialized dockets. These “Drug Court” programs help those who deal with addiction issues overcome their drug abuse and lead productive, law-abiding lives and assist offenders who are re-entering society after a period of incarceration.
Judge Edwards has presided over thousands of both Civil and Criminal cases of various types during his time on the bench. He has also held more jury trials than any other judge in Marion during that time, including 22 in 2023 and 16 in 2022.
JUDGE EDWARDS WAS RAISED IN MARION
Judge W. “Tom” Edwards was raised in Marion by his parents, the Reverend Jon Edwards and his wife Sylvia Edwards R.N, and is a graduate of Marion Harding High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Capital University and his law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law.
Judge Edwards lives in Marion County with his wife, Kelesta (Bender), a River Valley graduate, to whom he has been married for over 30 years. They have two adult children, who also both graduated from River Valley, and who are teachers and coaches in Marion area schools. He is a member of the Marion County Bar Association as well as the Ohio Judicial Conference.
Drug Court and Re-Entry Court
Judge Edwards operates a revamped Drug Court offering recovery services to Marion’s residents that are struggling with addiction, and a Re-Entry Court helping those who have been incarcerated re-establish law abiding lives. Both of these dockets are certified by the Ohio Supreme Court, and bring a total of $90,000 in grant funds to Marion's justice system. Judge Edwards Drug Court has seen great success with several graduates going on to become drug counselors. The Drug Court has also won the support of many public officials who have been speakers at its ceremonies.
JUDGE EDWARDS STANDS FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
THE INTEGRITY TO SPEAK UP AND EVEN STAND ALONE
Judge Edwards testified against another judge both in the criminal trial and the hearing concerning the convicted judge's law license. Judge Edwards was the only public official to oppose the reinstatement of the former judge's law license. While Judge Edwards respects opposing views, he is mindful that our government is built on checks and balances, and the importance of the minority, or in this case, the lone voice.