• News
  • Business
  • Donate
  • Features
    • Opinions
    • Arts & Style
    • Video
    • Photos
    • Interviews
    • Audio
  • About Us
  • New Americans Business Magazine
  • Contact
  • News
  • Business
  • Donate
  • Features
    • Opinions
    • Arts & Style
    • Video
    • Photos
    • Interviews
    • Audio
  • About Us
  • New Americans Business Magazine
  • Contact
Popular
Recent
Comments
Tags
  • U. S. 2020 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program opens Wednesday, Oct, 3

    October 1, 2018

    Feyi Tolani: An Advocate-In-Nursing

    November 1, 2018

    America’s Immigration Debate: The “Danger of Telling a Single Story.”

    February 13, 2017
  • Columbus intensifies efforts to keep streets free ...

    January 27, 2023

    FIA celebrates India’s 74th Republic Day in ...

    January 26, 2023

    Ohio Governor DeWine Delivers 2023 State of the St ...

    January 25, 2023
  • Good job, sir!

    January 12, 2021

    I'm call Haji I live the dadaab comp I am a refuge ...

    October 12, 2020

    Narayan vai, you spoke the truth about the importa ...

    September 6, 2020
  • Zimbabwe Youths Youth Foundation Younger Ohioans Yoga International Day Yoga Day X Gender Passport Worthington Christian School World Food Day World Cup 2022 World Cup Workplace Women's Commission Women's Big 10 Women Basketball Women and Families Wisconsin Badgers Who wins Ohio 2018 elections? When DACA Calls Westerville schools Wellness Walk Weekend Weddings/Funerals Wedding banquet Wear Masks
  • Columbus intensifies efforts to keep streets free ...

  • FIA celebrates India’s 74th Republic Day in ...

  • Ohio Governor DeWine Delivers 2023 State of the St ...

  • Columbus Mayor Ginther appoints Jason Jenkins Exec ...

  • US Homeland Security Dept. Extends and Redesignate ...

  • Intel names Midwest Campus “Ohio One”

  • Indian-descent Telugu-Americans of Central Ohio ce ...

  • Columbus Metropolitan Library on Karl Road partner ...

  • Reynoldsburg hosts first MLK Breakfast Memorial

  • Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual March h ...

  • Reynoldsburg hosts first MLK Breakfast Memorial

  • Columbus Metropolitan Library on Karl Road partner ...

  • Indian-descent Telugu-Americans of Central Ohio ce ...

  • Intel names Midwest Campus “Ohio One”

  • US Homeland Security Dept. Extends and Redesignate ...

  • Columbus Mayor Ginther appoints Jason Jenkins Exec ...

  • Ohio Governor DeWine Delivers 2023 State of the St ...

  • FIA celebrates India’s 74th Republic Day in ...

  • Columbus intensifies efforts to keep streets free ...

  • Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual March h ...

Previous Next

Judge Mark Serrott seeks to continue serving

Posted by: New Americans Magazine , February 15, 2022

By Okon Ekpenyong and Peaches Calhoun

Since 2010, the Honorable Judge Mark Serrott has been a Judge for the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in the General Division. Before taking the bench, he served as a trial lawyer for more than 31 years, including contract disputes, criminal matters, family law, personal injury, and domestic-related cases, to name a few. He was an adjunct professor at OSU and Capital Law for ten years before taking the bench. “I love helping ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances,” Judge Serrot said.

The New Americans Magazine caught up with a man whose intention was to be fair, become a good listener, give second chances, provide the necessary tools to help those fighting addictions and suffering from mental illness when he first took the bench in 2010. Honorable Judge Mark Serrott has one more eligible year left on the court, so he’s seeking re-election in 2022. In 2016, the Judge ran unopposed, and it appears that it might happen again.

Beginnings

I grew up in the Linden area in Columbus, Ohio. While growing up, I’ve always known that I wanted to become a lawyer. I went into law because I desired to help the underdog and the underprivileged. My father was a bailiff in court, which piqued my interest in pursuing a career in law. Neither of my parents had a college degree, but they instilled that college and hard work ethic were important. While studying at Ohio State, I worked full-time, became a father of two kids, and graduated at 20 years old in 1975.

Law School

After receiving my Bachelor’s degree, I got accepted into OSU law school and graduated in 1979 with my JD. After graduation, I worked for Tom Tyack and Paul Scott’s law firm for 12 years representing the underdog and underprivileged, which I wanted to do. After leaving the law firm, I opened up my law firm.

Judicial post

I decided to become a Judge to use my experience and hopefully help people, especially those with addiction issues because my son had gone to prison for crimes associated with his addiction.

Cases

I handled thousands of cases and so many jury trials and other trials that I lost count but in the hundreds. I also took about 80 appeals, including four in the Ohio Supreme Court. I successfully argued and then tried an employment case that changed the law in Ohio and had the far-reaching effect of providing additional protection to employees from wrongful discharge. 

Election

I was elected Judge in the Common Pleas Court in 2010 and took the bench in January of 2011. I have held the job for the last 12 years, and I am up for my final re-election this year. If re-elected in 2022, I will serve an additional six years.

Court

My court handles all felonies, including death penalty cases and severe civil cases involving any dispute over $15,000. We also handle all administrative appeals which determine whether doctors, dentists, nurses, bar owners, and any permit holder will lose their livelihood or license.

Pandemic

In the summer of 2020, during the height of the pandemic, there were several restrictions ordered by Governor Mike DeWine to save lives due to day to day increase of coronavirus cases that kept hospitals across the state out of beds for non-covid related matters. The food and drink industry took a massive hit during the pandemic. DeWine’s temporary restraining order against the enforcement of an ordinance forcing Judge Serrott to sign a temporary restricting order blocking the ordinance of not allowing restaurants and bars to remain open instead of closing at 10 p.m.

Community

Becoming a judge has been the most rewarding job of my career. It comes with great responsibility. If I sign my name on a legal document, someone loses their freedom and goes to prison, and if I sign my name, someone will get out of jail.

My decision-making also affects those license and permit holders and determines whether they can keep their jobs. I agonize over sentences and try to help people avoid prison and get their lives on track. I take the job seriously and wield this power judiciously and with restraint.

Impact

I have changed lives. I have letters from many people saying I saved their lives and helped them recover from addictions and get a new start. If you can change and affect even one life during your lifetime, then your life has meaning and makes everything worthwhile.

Life on the bench This is the most rewarding part of the job.

Challenges

I have failures, too, and see many violent and tragic events and the savage consequences of Rape, Murder, Domestic Violence. I have handled two death penalty cases, including the Reagan Tokes case.

I love my job and want to continue to serve. I treat everyone with dignity and respect and apply the law firmly, relatively, but with a dose of mercy and understanding. I believe in human redemption.

So, my career is not yet over as a judge.

Advice

For people who want to become a Judge, I would suggest getting lots of courtroom experience in all areas of the law and getting involved in a political party because you must secure a nomination from a major political party to get elected.

Post Views: 1,356

Share!
Tweet

New Americans Magazine

About the author

Deba Uwadiae is an international journalist, author, global analyst, consultant, publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the New Americans Magazine Group, Columbus, Ohio. He is a member of the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association, OCLA.

Related Posts

Judge Marilyn Zayas continues on Path to Justice seeking a seat in the Ohio Supreme Court at the November 8, General Election

By Deba Uwadiae As a teenager, Judge Marilyn Zayas accompanied her mom to a family court and se ...

Said Oladejo-Lawal exhibits paintings at Columbus International Airport

By Deba Uwadiae, with pictures by Abi Uwadiae Raised by a father who specialized in painting an ...

Laura Berger Abbas Heart of Service

Laura Berger Abbas is the Chief Operating Officer at Our Helpers, a nonprofit organization.  Sh ...

Sahara and Kids in Community Service

By Tonya Kelly, MEd, and Okon Ekpenyong Teja Kancharlapalli is the promoter of Sahara, an organ ...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Advertisement

0
Popular
Recent
Comments
  • U. S. 2020 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program opens Wednesday, Oct, 3

    October 1, 2018

    Feyi Tolani: An Advocate-In-Nursing

    November 1, 2018

    America’s Immigration Debate: The “Danger of Telling a Single Story.”

    February 13, 2017
  • Columbus intensifies efforts to keep streets free ...

    January 27, 2023

    FIA celebrates India’s 74th Republic Day in ...

    January 26, 2023

    Ohio Governor DeWine Delivers 2023 State of the St ...

    January 25, 2023
  • Good job, sir!

    January 12, 2021

    I'm call Haji I live the dadaab comp I am a refuge ...

    October 12, 2020

    Narayan vai, you spoke the truth about the importa ...

    September 6, 2020

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016

Contact Form


1+1=


American international journalist and author of "The Immigrant on Columbus Way: A True Life Guide To Settling Down As A New Immigrant To America "

Current/Past Issues

  • DailyNews
  • Hotels
  • Hotwire
  • Merchantic
  • Reference
  • Thesaurus
  • Urbanspoon

All used images are licensed by The New Americans Magazine.

Copyright © 2018 The New Americans Magazine | Layout and design by LiQiD inc