Melissa Kobasher sworn in as Lorain County Common Pleas judge

Melissa Kobasher was sworn in as Lorain County Common Pleas judge on Thursday, making her the newest member of the county judiciary. Kobasher's husband, Nick, and the couple's children, Milana and Odin, held the Bible for the swearing-in ceremony as her former employer Judge Christopher Rothgery administered the oath of office in the jury assembly room of the county Justice Center in Elyria in front of dozens of county officials, attorneys, court staff and well-wishers. "I remain committed to being a judge who is thoughtful and effective," Kobasher said Thursday. It has been her dream since the age of 8 to be an attorney and her goal to be a judge since the day she graduated from law school. "I'm a little bit of a dreamer," she said. Kobasher thanked her friends, campaign supporters, her parents, three sisters and husband for standing by her and helping her fulfill those dreams. Kobasher is a Pittsfield Township native and graduate of Wellington High School, Lorain County Community College and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She was magistrate and staff attorney to Rothgery for the last five years. After defeating two other Democrats in a primary contest, Kobasher defeated Avon Lake Municipal Judge Darrel Bilancini, a Republican, in November to replace retiring Judge Mark Betleski. At age 35, she is the fourth-youngest judge to be elected to the Common Pleas Court and the second woman to be elected to the General Division, which handles felony criminal and civil cases. The first woman so elected was the late Judge Lynett McGough. Kobasher's friends and fellow attorneys Stephanie Smith Beedle and Giovanna Bremke used words like "determined" and "well-prepared" to describe her. Rothgery said Kobasher is a hard worker, and though he started as her employer and became her friend and neighbor, "I look forward to calling her a colleague." Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @DaveOBrienCT.