BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON - A game of judicial musical chairs is about to begin in Butler County's courts.
The Butler County Republican Party's executive committee is recommending Steve Hollon to serve the remaining two years of Anthony Valen's term on common pleas court.
The committee also said Rob Lyons, a Union Township attorney, should take the seat Judge Patricia Oney is vacating in Butler County Area 1 Court in Oxford.
Ohio Gov. George Voinovich will appoint a judge for Area I Court, while Ohio Gov.-elect Bob Taft will tap a judge to common pleas court, said Carlos Todd, chairman of the Butler County Republican Party. The Butler County recommendations for those two seats have been sent to them, he said.
Judge Valen will leave common pleas court to take a seat on the 12th District Court of Appeals on Feb. 9. That court covers five counties - Preble, Butler, Warren, Clinton and Clermont - and a large chunk of Brown.
In the November general election, Judge Valen was elected to the appeals court and Judge Oney was elected to common pleas court. Judge Valen will replace Richard Koehler, who did not seek re-election. Judge Oney will replace John Moser, who is retiring.
Mr. Hollon, who lives in Monroe, is administrator of the 2nd District Court of Appeals in Dayton. He previously had served as administrator of the 12th District Court of Appeals for eight years. Mr. Hollon beat out Jeffrey Milbauer and Joyce Campbell, both Middletown attorneys.
Mr. Lyons competed against Gary McGee, a Hamilton attorney, and Kevin McDonough, a Cincinnati attorney who lives in Union Township.
