SIDNEY — With her children by her side, Kristina M. Morris took the oath of office Tuesday morning to serve as the Shelby County Common Pleas Court magistrate.
James F. Stevenson, the Shelby County Common Pleas Court judge, administered Morris’ oath of office in the Common Pleas Court.
“I am honored to serve the judiciary, and I hope to enhance the accessibility and the efficiency of the court through my duties and serve the families and children of Shelby County,” Morris said. “I’m honored and thankful to Judge Stevenson for giving me this opportunity and my family for their support. And I hope to resolve all domestic conflicts in a fair and just manner.”
Morris replaces Gary J. Carter, who had served as the Shelby County Common Pleas Court magistrate since 1991. Carter was elected Sidney Municipal Court judge in November and was sworn in Friday afternoon.
In her duties as magistrate, Morris will have the power to conduct trials, decide motions, place witnesses under oath and issue contempt rulings.
“We’d like to welcome Kristina to the Common Pleas Court team, and we’re looking forward to working with her, and we’re sure she’s going to do a great job for us,” Stevenson said.
Morris has been an attorney for more than 12 years. She studied at the University of Cincinnati then attended law school at the University of Dayton. During her studies, she worked for a magistrate at the federal courthouse in Cincinnati and was a judicial clerk for Montgomery County Juvenile Court.
After earning her law degree, Morris worked for almost 10 years as a partner at a law firm in Nebraska, primarily practicing in domestic relations.
Three years ago, Morris and her husband, Wince, returned to Ohio to raise their family. They have a 4-year-old son, Amare, and a 2-year-old daughter, Raiyah.
Morris has practiced law in Shelby County for the past three years. She has served as assistant prosecutor under Shelby County Prosecutor Timothy S. Sell, working the children’s services docket under the dependency and neglect cases.
Her primary focus as magistrate will continue to be domestic relations.
“I’ve been serving children and families of Shelby County for almost three years now, and I’m glad to continue to do that,” Morris said.
“This is certainly an opportunity that I’ve always envisioned myself in, working in domestic relations and working as a magistrate or a judge.”
