Strickland to change appointment process

The governor-elect can appoint his first judge of his tenure Jan. 9.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Governor-elect Ted Strickland and his administration will change how open judicial seats are filled to allow his office to oversee the screening, a spokesman said.
Previous administrations had accepted lists of candidates screened and approved by the county parties, but Strickland's office wanted a hand in the process, much like the last Democratic governor, Richard Celeste in the 1980s.
"We want to establish a screening process, and we are doing a top-to-bottom review of how the governor should exercise that authority," said Keith Dailey, Strickland's spokesman. "Our goal is to eventually include community leaders in an open and inclusive process."
First appointment
Strickland can appoint the first judge of his tenure Jan. 9, to fill a vacancy in the Franklin County Municipal Court. Party officials there, assuming Strickland would heed their recommendations like past administrations, already had submitted three names for Strickland's consideration.
The party withdrew those nominations to allow Strickland time to lay out exactly how he'll appoint judges, county Democratic Chairman William Anthony said.
"There was a miscommunication how the Strickland campaign wanted to do it," Anthony said. "We jumped the gun and did it like it's been done in the past."
The Franklin County seat could stay vacant for weeks while Strickland's staff determines how to handle judicial appointments.
"I'm sure they want a fair and open process and not just another political appointment," said Frank Macke, a lawyer originally selected by the party for Strickland's consideration.
"I say, may the best person get the appointment," Macke said.