Griffith appointed magistrate of Clinton County Juvenile Court

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WILMINGTON — Local attorney Chaley Peelle Griffith has been appointed the new magistrate for the Clinton County Juvenile/Probate Courts, and will assume the responsibilities of the bench on Jan. 1, 2020 upon the retirement of Magistrate Mark J. Miars.

Clinton County Juvenile/Probate Judge Chad L. Carey, who made the appointment, said when Miars advised him he would retire at year’s end, his first thought was of Griffith, whom he has known since she was 8.

Carey said he watched her do well in school, at college, and in the University of Dayton law school, and most recently has observed her practicing law in the local courts.

Griffith’s temperament is well-suited to her new position where she will conduct a court and administer the law, said Carey.

“It’s so important to have a good temperament on the bench,” Carey added.

As magistrate, her main responsibility will be the juvenile traffic docket. She also will hear child support cases involving alleged contempt and non-payment of support, as well as hearing some juvenile delinquent cases.

She may also preside over some probate hearings.

Griffith has four young sons.

She received her undergraduate degree from Xavier University, and her law degree from the University of Dayton. She was admitted to the bar in 2004 and has been in private practice with Peelle Law Offices Co., L.P.A. for much of her legal career.

Griffith is active in the community, having been past president of the local Red Cross Leadership Council, the Wilmington Schools Foundation, and the Clinton County Foundation.

Mark Miars, the current magistrate for Clinton County Juvenile/Probate Court, will retire on Dec. 31, 2019. Miars earned his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary, and his law degree from the University of Cincinnati. He was admitted to the bar in 1978.

He was in the private practice of law for many years and was a partner with the area firm Rose & Dobyns. He served as a Clinton County Municipal Court magistrate under then Judge Chad Carey for seven years.

Miars was Judicial Services coordinator for the Ohio Judicial Conference at the Ohio Supreme Court in Columbus for two years. He then returned to Clinton County to serve as magistrate in the Juvenile/Probate Courts for nine and a half years under Judges Allen Gano and Chad Carey.

He has also served as president of the Steel Fabricators Association of Ohio, and as general counsel of the Champion Bridge Company, located in Wilmington.

Chaley Peelle Griffith, right, shakes hands with Clinton County Juvenile/Probate Judge Chad Carey after she was sworn in Monday as Juvenile/Probate magistrate. Her father, William Peelle, also practices law and ceremoniously helped his daughter don a judicial robe prior to the photo.
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/12/web1_magistrate_p.jpgChaley Peelle Griffith, right, shakes hands with Clinton County Juvenile/Probate Judge Chad Carey after she was sworn in Monday as Juvenile/Probate magistrate. Her father, William Peelle, also practices law and ceremoniously helped his daughter don a judicial robe prior to the photo. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal

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