28-05-2025
Hamilton County judge, who has been on medical leave for a year, announces retirement
Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Tom Heekin, who has been on medical leave for more than a year, has decided to retire from the bench.
Heekin is undergoing treatment for cancer. He has served as a judge since 2016 when he was appointed by then-Gov. John Kasich. He was elected to a second, six-year term in November 2022 and had four years left in that term
Heekin, 64, started his medical leave in April 2024. Since that time, Robert Ruehlman, a retired judge, has been handling Heekin's cases. The Ohio Supreme Court appointed Ruehlman on a temporary basis, officials said. He served as a common pleas judge in Hamilton County for 36 years.
It is Gov. Mike DeWine's responsibility to appoint Heekin's successor.
In a statement, Court Administrator Thomas Beridon said Heekin's tenure was "marked by his deep understanding of the law, his respect for all who entered his courtroom and his steady leadership."
"We are profoundly grateful for his faithful service and continued partnership through this period of transition," Beridon said.
Heekin's late father, Tom Heekin Sr., was a municipal judge and common pleas judge in Hamilton County decades ago. Ruehlman, in fact, worked for Heekin's father in the 1970s as a law clerk.
Heekin is a graduate of Princeton High School. He received his law degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1988. He was an assistant prosecutor in Hamilton County for several years and later founded the law firm Heekin & Heekin with his brother, Christopher.
Heekin was a longtime Republican. But when he ran for reelection in 2022, he switched parties and became a Democrat.
In a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine's office, Heekin announced that his retirement will be effective Friday, May 30.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hamilton County Judge Tom Heekin announces retirement
