BREAKING NEWS: Shirley Christian named Judge Evans replacement

COLUMBUS — Atty. Shirley Christian has been appointed by Gov. John Kasich to fill the unexpired term of Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Rob Nichols, a spokesman for the governor, confirmed the appointment this afternoon.

Judge Evans is retiring from the bench in October.

Atty. Christian will take office Jan. 2 and will have to run for re-election in 2016 if she wants to keep the seat for the term that begins in 2017.

Christian beat out three other candidates for the appointment. Those other candidates are Anthony M. D’Apolito of Poland, a county juvenile court magistrate and son of Judge Lou D’Apolito of common pleas court; Rob Andrews, an assistant county prosecutor; and Wade T. Doerr of New Middletown, an attorney with an Akron law firm.

Christian is an attorney with the law firm Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell.