When most people think of how a county’s court system works, what may first come to mind are murder trials or other high-profile cases.

In truth, the courts aren't always glamorous like they may be portrayed on an episode of “Law and Order.” But they have hardworking people, and the operations involve many important functions that have an everyday effect on people’s lives.

For example, when someone is accused of a crime and doesn’t have the resources to pay for an attorney, they are deemed indigent, and a public defender is appointed to represent them.

In Lake County, there is a county public defender who oversees a group of attorneys charged with that task.

For nearly 35 years, the county Public Defender was R. Paul LaPlante, a highly respected attorney. His recent death leaves a void, and it will be up to the Lake County Public Defender Commission to name a successor. Look for that to happen sometime after Aug. 26.

The Lake County Probate Court also is another area that may not get the headlines, but the court’s role is mightily important.

A Probate Court has jurisdiction over matters such as issuance of marriage licenses; administration of estates and guardianships; adoption proceedings; determination of sanity or mental competence; certain eminent domain proceedings; and other civil matters.

Gov. John Kasich will be responsible for naming a new Lake County Probate Judge after Judge Ted Klammer died in March.

Candidates said to be under consideration are Geauga County Assistant Prosecutor Mark Bartolotta; Lake County Probate Court Magistrate Lora Lynne Krider; Lake County Assistant Prosecutor John O’Donnell; and Jim O’Leary, a Painesville Township attorney.

In the meantime, retired Stark County Probate Court Judge R.R. Denny Clunk has been filling the seat on the bench until Kasich makes the appointment.

Look for Kasich to make a decision in the next few weeks.

Fende ready

Lake County Treasurer-elect Lorraine M. Fende will finally drop the “elect” from her title, as she will begin her four-year term on Sept. 3. Technically, the term begins Sept. 2, but the office is closed that day for the Labor Day holiday.

Fende, who was elected back in November, plans to be officially sworn-in Monday by her husband, retired Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Larry Allen.

Event

A meet-and-greet event with Dennis Morley, candidate for Eastlake mayor, will be hosted by Ken and Denise Hoefle, Joe and Ingrid D’Ambrosio, Donna Vaughn and Laura DePledge from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 22 at 36683 Valley Ridge Drive, Eastlake.

Fundies

n Fundraiser for Riverside School Board member Belinda Grassi and Jennifer Harden, a candidate for Riverside School Board, 3 to 6 p.m. Aug. 18 at Pickle Bills in Grand River. See Grassi or Harden.

n Fende hosts eighth annual Steakroast from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Wickliffe Italian American Club. See Diane Fox.

n Fundraiser for Cindy Quinn-Hopkins, candidate for Eastlake mayor, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at Trader Jacks Riverside Grille in Eastlake. See Dave Fiebig or Mark Cain.

n Chuck Hillier, candidate for Painesville Township trustee, hosts a fundraiser from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at Lake Erie Shores Beach Park Pavilion in Painesville Township. See Ken Fitzsimmons.

n Kenny Yuko, a candidate for Ohio Senate District 25, hosts a Gala Reception with guest state Rep. Connie Pillach, a candidate for Ohio Treasurer, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at The Patrician in Eastlake. See Yuko or Pamela Yuko.

n Wickliffe Mayor Bill Margalis hosts the fifth annual Labor Day Picnic from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 30 at Wickliffe Italian American Club Picnic Pavilion. See Bill or Sue Margalis.

n Fundraiser for John Popelka, candidate for Willoughby Council Ward 2, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at Mullarkey’s Irish Pub in Willoughby. See Popelka, Geoff Weaver or John Bowers.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

The late Ted Klammer who served as Lake County Probate Court Judge will be missed by countless members of the community.

As the Probate Court judge since 2003, Klammer had responsibility over matters such as a person’s estate, appointing guardians, issuing marriage licenses and many other legal duties.

To keep the court operating, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor assigned retired Stark County Probate Court Judge R.R. Denny Clunk to serve a three-month assignment. Sitting judges in the county Common Pleas Court will also fill in when needed.

Ohio law states it will be the governor’s responsibility to appoint a new judge, who must be a Lake County resident.

Klammer was a Democrat, Gov. John Kasich is a Republican. In all likelihood, the appointed judge would be a Republican and it’s quite possible the person who fills the unexpired term would decide to run for a new term during the November 2014 election.

The Lake County Republican Party will likely make some recommendations to the governor, but ultimately it is Kasich’s choice.

There are several GOP attorney names floating around who could be among those considered for a potential appointment by the governor.

What about Kirtland resident Jason Wuliger, who was appointed as Lake County Recorder by the county GOP last year after former Recorder Frank Suponcic resigned? Wuliger is a former Lake County Juvenile Court magistrate.

Perhaps Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Patton, who also is Willowick Council president, might be interested?

Geoffrey W. Weaver ran for the Probate Court bench in 2002 as the Republican Party’s nominee against Klammer. Heidi M. Koenig, who has served as a Cuyahoga County magistrate, also ran in that November 2002 race as an independent candidate.

I think if Lake County Prosecutor Charles E. Coulson were interested he could be picked, but I’m not sure that he is.

Other potential names I’ve heard are Lake County Probate Court Magistrate Lora Lynne Stalnaker; Assistant Lake County Prosecutors John O’Donnell and Karen Kowall, who ran for Willoughby Municipal Court judge in November 2011; and Assistant Geauga County Prosecutor Mark Bartolotta, who previously served as a Lake County assistant prosecutor.

Another responsibility a Lake County Probate Court judge has is to make appointments to the three-member Lake Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners, who serve three-year terms.

Park commissioners now serving are Ellen Foley Kessler, whose term expires Dec. 31; Dennis E. Eckert, whose term expires Dec. 31, 2014; and Frank J. Polivka, whose term expires Dec. 31, 2015.

It is worth noting that the unexpired term of Klammer runs through Feb. 8, 2015.

So the person who is appointed by Kasich would likely have the ability to reappoint or appoint new people for two park commissioner seats.

Filed petitions

People recently filing petitions with the Lake County Elections Board were Ron Ely for Wickliffe Council Ward 3, Bill Margalis for Wickliffe mayor and John Plecnik for Willoughby Hills Council at large for the two-year term commencing Jan. 1.

Taken out petitions

Joshua Pennock has taken out petitions with the Lake County Elections Board for Painesville Township trustee, Dan Hill has taken them out for Timberlake Council.

Deadlines

To send information for this column, the deadline each week is Wednesday at 5 p.m. Email or fax is preferred.

Fundies

n Concord Township Trustees Paul Malchesky and Christopher Galloway re-election fundraiser 5 to 7 p.m. April 1 at Harry Buffalo in Painesville Township. See Malchesky, Galloway or Connie Luhta.

n Dennis Morley will host a kickoff fundraiser for his Eastlake mayor campaign, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 17 at Trader Jack’s Riverside Grille in Eastlake. See Donna Vaughn or Barb Morley.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah