By Dan Horn
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ann Marie Tracey will step down next year to teach ethics and business law at Xavier University.

Judge Ann Marie Tracey

Her departure in August will leave the general division of Common Pleas Court, which handles the county's most serious criminal and civil cases, with just two women judges and one Democrat.

Judge Tracey, the first woman to serve in the court's general division, joined the 15-member court in 1989 and has served two six-year terms. She was elected to a third term in November.

The judge said her decision to leave was difficult, but she described the offer from Xavier as one that "I couldn't pass up."

"It's the right place and the right time," Judge Tracey said Wednesday.

She said she decided to take the job at Xavier's Williams College of Business because it gives her the opportunity to write and teach full-time. She has worked for three years as a part-time adjunct professor at Xavier.

"I have always wanted to teach," Judge Tracey said. The decision is bad news for Hamilton County's Democratic Party, which for years has been unable to successfully challenge Republican domination of Common Pleas Court.

Judge Tracey is one of only two Democrats - Judge Richard Niehaus is the other - who have won and held seats on the court during the past decade.

"Obviously, it's a disappointment to lose a Democratic seat when the Democrat was just re-elected this fall," said Tim Burke, co-chairman of the county's Democratic Party.

Republican Gov. Bob Taft will appoint Judge Tracey's successor in August, and the new judge will have to defend the seat in the November 2004 election.

Mark Mallory, the other party co-chairman, said he's optimistic Gov. Taft will appoint a Democrat to Judge Tracey's seat.

Judge Tracey will be an assistant professor of legal studies at Xavier and will teach law and ethics to undergraduate and graduate students in the business school.

E-mail dhorn@enquirer.com