Has served as judge in municipal court since 2000
In letters to Gov. Michael DeWine and Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor dated June 16, Marysville Municipal Court Judge Michael Grigsby announced his early retirement effective July 23.
“I think that under today’s circumstances my docket is in good order for whoever succeeds me,” wrote Grigsby. “It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve Union County and the State of Ohio as Judge since 2000, though most of the credit for any success I have had goes to my staff, past and present.”
Grigsby will turn 71 this month, a fact he noted in his letter to the governor.
He did not respond to the Journal-Tribune’s requests for comment about his retirement.
With Grigsby leaving midway through his term, DeWine will appoint an interim judge to the Marysville Municipal Court, though the Union County Republican Central Committee will offer a list of suggestions.
“The governor will appoint a temporary interim judge and then it will go on the ballot for this November for the unexpired term,” said Tina LaRoche, director of the Union County Board of Elections.
The appointed interim judge will serve until a municipal court judge is elected and has qualified through election certification and any requirements set forth by law, LaRoche added.
Voters will select the permanent replacement in the general election on Nov. 2. The winner will complete Grigsby’s term, which ends on Dec. 31, 2023.
LaRoche explained that municipal court judge candidates who want to be on the ballot in November have 10 days after the vacancy to submit their petition. The deadline to submit petitions is 4 p.m. on Aug. 2.
To be valid, petitions must be signed by at least 50 registered voters in Union County.
Grigsby, a life-long resident of Union County, is the son of Joseph B. Grigsby, former judge of Union County Common Pleas Court. He formed Parrott & Grigsby law firm with Richard Parrott in 1981, and it continued until 1985 when Grigsby left to begin his own practice.
Grigsby served on Marysville City Council as councilman-at-large from 1981 to 1985 and was president of council from 1982 through 1984. He went on to become Marysville’s law director and municipal court prosecutor from January 1, 1986 to December 31, 1999.
In November 1999, Grigsby was appointed to serve as judge of the Marysville Municipal Court and was re-elected in November 2005, November 2011 and November 2017.
Grigsby is a member of the Ohio Municipal and County Court Judges Association. He belongs to the Ohio and Union County Bar Associations and is admitted to practice before the United States and Ohio Supreme Courts and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio.
He also served as a trustee of the Union County Board of the American Red Cross and the Union County Community Improvement Corporation (a division of the Chamber of Commerce), an alternate member of the Logan-Union-Champaign Planning Commission and secretary of the Marysville Evening Lions.
In addition, Grigsby is an associate member of the Union County Township Clerks and Trustees Association and belongs to several lodges and fraternal organizations.