Oct 28, 2015 3 min read

Two of the five Washington County judges are up for retention in Tuesday’s general election.

President Judge Katherine Emery and Judge John DiSalle are both seeking new, 10-year terms. Judges seeking retention run on a straight yes or no vote on whether they should be retained.

Emery was elected 20 years ago and has handled criminal, civil, juvenile, orphans and family court. This is her second retention election. She took over as president judge this year after former president judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca retired from the bench amidst allegations of improprieties.

“A good judge is fair, impartial and has a good knowledge in the law,” Emery said. “I’ve displayed all of these qualities as I’ve presided over cases in Washington County. I’ve done a good job and ask to be retained.”

She said her most impactful work on the bench has been with juvenile court, and her most memorable case was the 2002 Gregory S. Modery death penalty trial. Modery was convicted for the abduction, robbery and fatal shooting of Ira Swearingen, 49, of Stout, Ohio.

Emery said a great deal has changed since she first took the bench. More than half of her job now involves civil cases involving the gas industry and The Meadows Casino, and she is more confident of the decisions she makes.

“I’m more self-assured,” she said. “You have to make a decision and be comfortable about it. You do the best you can.”

DiSalle also handled criminal court and currently presides over drug and veterans court. This is his first retention election. He was first elected in 2005 after practicing law in the county and spending eight years with the district attorney’s office.

DiSalle said he is focused on addressing the growing drug problem in the county, and echoed Emery’s sentiment about working with those in juvenile court.

“I’ve been working hard to serve the citizens of Washington County and to serve the criminal justice system. I’m tough on violent sex offenders, but very conscious of the heroin epidemic and the need to treat addicted offenders,” he said.

He said the criminal justice system needs to be harder on drug traffickers that are profiting from the drug use in the county.

Both judges said a great deal of the problems facing the county are caused by drug use.

“Addiction and untreated mental health issues are very much a part of our criminal justice system,” DiSalle said. “We need to tackle the root of these problems.”