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Robert Gippin, of Akron, and Roger Hafford, of Fremont, have been appointed by Gov. Ted Strickland to the Summit County Court of Common Pleas and Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas, respectively.
On April 5, Gippin will fill the Summit County seat vacated by the retirement of Judge Marvin A. Shapiro. Hafford takes over the Sandusky County seat, which was vacated by Judge James Sherck after his retirement, on April 11.
Gippin, 60, is currently a partner with the law firm of Goldman and Rosen, Ltd., in Akron. An attorney with more than 30 years of legal experience, Gippin was previously a member of the firms of Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs Co., LPA, in Akron from 1975-2000 and Thompson Hine, LLP, in Cleveland from 2000-2003. He also served as a prosecutor for the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court.
“Robert’s career is marked by meaningful legal and courtroom experience and a history of service to Summit County,” Strickland said. “I am confident that he will serve the common pleas court with hard work and professionalism.”
Gippin received a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1969 and a law degree from Harvard University in 1973. Following graduation, Gippin worked as a special assistant to the director of the Ohio Department of Commerce and as the secretary of the Ohio State Real Estate Commission. He was a Summit County Council member from 1981-1984 and served as president for three years.
An active member of the Akron Bar Association, Gippin serves as chair of the Federal Courts Committee and a member of the Common Pleas and Court of Appeals Committee and the Certified Grievance Committee. Among his civic activities, Gippin serves as a member of the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, a trustee for the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio and a member of the board of Project Learn of Summit County, an adult literacy agency.
“I am grateful to the Governor for giving me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Summit County and for allowing me the great honor of succeeding Judge Shapiro, who has brought real wisdom, fairness and energy to the bench,” Gippin said. “I will strive to continue his tradition, using my 35 years of experience, my long history of community involvement, and my deep and abiding commitment to serve the law and the people with balance, patience and efficiency.”
Hafford, 61, has been a practicing attorney in Sandusky County for nearly 31 years. He currently serves as the acting prosecutor for the City of Fremont and as an attorney with Hafford-Watkins Law Office, LLC, in Fremont. Hafford previously served as prosecutor for the Fremont Municipal Court from 1981-1991 and as the City of Fremont law director from 1978-1991.
“Roger’s legal expertise, coupled with a life-long commitment to his community, makes him well-suited to serve as a fair and effective judge in Sandusky County,” Strickland said.
He is a member of the Fremont Area Foundation and has coached basketball in the Fremont area for 20 years. He is currently the coach for the Fremont Ross seventh grade boys basketball team.
Hafford received a bachelor’s degree from the Ohio State University in 1970, a master’s degree from Ohio State University in 1972 and a law degree from the University of Toledo in 1976. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association and the Sandusky County Bar Association.
“As a life-long resident of Sandusky County, I am honored to serve my community in this capacity,” Hafford said.
Contact: Chris Davey at 614.387.9250.