WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and George V. Voinovich (R-OH) announced today that they will recommend that President Obama nominate Jeffrey Helmick to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The nomination would fill the vacancy created by Judge James Carr, who assumed senior status on June 1, 2010.

The recommendation is based on the work of a 17-member judicial advisory commission assembled by Brown and Voinovich. To prevent any potential conflicts of interest, commission members residing in the Southern District of Ohio screened applicants for the Toledo vacancy.

“Jeffrey Helmick is an outstanding lawyer whose commitment to the law and to the Toledo community is second to none. I thank the judicial advisory commission for its hard work in screening so many fine candidates during this recommendation process,” said Brown. “Judge James Carr has and continues to serve the Northern District with distinction and integrity, and I am confident that Jeffrey Helmick would do the same should he be nominated by President Obama to fill this important position.”

“Jeffrey Helmick is a qualified candidate, who would bring years of legal experience and expertise to the bench,” said Voinovich.

"I'm deeply honored and humbled to have the confidence of Senators Brown and Voinovich in recommending me to President Obama as his possible nominee to the United States District Court bench," said Jeffrey Helmick.

“The Commission believes that Jeffrey Helmick will be a superb judge.  During his years of practice on both the criminal and civil sides, Mr. Helmick has shown a commitment to integrity and excellence.  He treats people with respect whether they are on the opposite or same side in litigation and regardless of their station.  His dedication to his community and to the administration of justice shows in his volunteer work and came through strongly in his interview with the Commission,” said Nancy Rogers, chairwoman of the commission.

Mr. Helmick received his J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution.  He is a principal in Gamso, Helmick & Hoolahan in Toledo.  He served on the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Education and is a member of the U.S. Attorney’s Advisory Council for the Northern District of Ohio. 

U.S. District Court judges are nominated by the president of the United States and must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. District Courts are general trials courts that hear both civil and criminal cases.

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