Attorney Khoury to run for Toledo Municipal Court judge

Also running is attorney Dale Emch, endorsed by Lucas Co. Democrats

3/28/2017

Khoury

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Toledo attorney Nicole Khoury announced today she plans to run for an open seat on Toledo Municipal Court.

Ms. Khoury would run for the seat now held by Republican Judge Robert Christiansen who has decided not to seek re-election. The nonpartisan election is Nov. 7.

Toledo attorney Dale Emch, 53, has also announced his candidacy for the seat and has been endorsed by the Lucas County Democratic Party.

Ms. Khoury, who is a Republican, is expected to seek the endorsement of the Lucas County Republican Party.

In a prepared statement, Ms. Khoury said, “I have the experience, vision and work ethic that Toledoans expect from their judicial system, and I pledge to bring an intelligent, fair and fresh perspective to the court. I have prepared for this role my entire life — from working daily in Municipal and Common Pleas courts across Ohio and Michigan, to the charity work to which I have dedicated myself for decades."

According to her statement, Ms. Khoury has represented thousands of low-income clients as a public defender and has argued felony and misdemeanor cases in front of all judges in Lucas County and many others throughout Ohio and Michigan.

She has been recognized for founding Project iAm, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping area families pay for treatments for children with autism. She organized the annual Acoustics for Autism event, which has raised more than $130,000 for families impacted by autism, the statement read. Ms. Khoury is a guitar player and lead singer in the local rock band Arctic Clam.

Ms. Khoury, 39, has received the Ohio State Bar Foundation District and Statewide awards for community service, and works as a Mentor with Mom's House, a board member of the Pride of Toledo Foundation, a fundraiser for the Toledo Drug Abuse Response Team, and an organizer for the Caly Cares Foundation, according to her campaign statement.

"I believe that our communities are safest when the justice system works fairly and efficiently. Every citizen that enters the courtroom deserves the same fair and consistent application of the law, regardless of income, ethnicity or background. Serving as a municipal court judge requires thoughtful, impartial considerations of cases that will keep our community safe, while addressing the everyday problems of everyday people. Building upon my career as a litigator, volunteer and public servant, I am ready to embrace this challenge and put my experience to work in continued service of our community," she said.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.