The Logan County Chamber of Commerce held its monthly Business Impact Meeting Wednesday at Mary Rutan Health, bringing together three Logan County judges to discuss their roles and some of the issues they are seeing in the local court system.
The judges included Judge Jacob A. Estes of Bellefontaine Municipal Court, Judge Kevin Braig of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, and Judge Natasha R. Kennedy of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division.
Estes was elected to the Bellefontaine Municipal Court in 2024.
A graduate of Capital University Law School, he previously served as a probation officer, parole officer, and private practice attorney.
He is also active in the Logan County community through organizations including Kiwanis, Discovery Riders and local youth sports.
Braig has served as Judge of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas, General Division since his appointment by Governor Mike DeWine in 2019.
A graduate of Ohio University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Braig practiced law for 26 years before taking the bench and has remained active in the community, including through youth sports.
Kennedy has served as Judge of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division since her appointment by Governor Mike DeWine in 2021 and election to a six-year term in 2022.
She has more than a decade of service to Logan County and remains active in judicial and community organizations, while also coaching youth soccer and basketball.
During the presentation, Braig explained that judges are often simply the messenger, carrying out what the law requires.
He noted that he is the only person in Logan County who can send someone to prison.
Kennedy discussed several trends in Family Court, with cell phone use among young people being a major concern.
She said many cases involve children taking pictures, making videos and sexting, with some situations leading to sexually oriented offenses.
Kennedy stressed that parents need to monitor their children’s cell phone use to make sure they are using the devices safely.
She said many of the issues appearing in her courtroom now stem from cell phone activity.
On a positive note, Kennedy said Logan County has seen a reduction in truancy cases over the past year.
Braig also identified cell phone use as a significant problem and said mental health issues continue to increase.
He said those cases can be complex and time-consuming and often involve felony charges.
Braig said substance abuse cases are generally easier to address than mental health-related cases because of the added complexity. He also expressed appreciation for peer recovery services in Logan County, saying they are helping with drug intervention efforts.
He said Drug Court is addressing substance abuse from both sides through prevention and recovery.
Estes said OVI cases are currently trending downward. He credited supervision as a major part of the success he sees through the county’s court and probation system.
Estes said he sees positive stories every day involving people who have made significant changes in their lives, adding that probation is working.
He also identified mental health as a major factor affecting the community.
The Chamber also announced upcoming speakers.
State Senator Susan Manchester is scheduled to speak at the Chamber’s meeting on the second Wednesday of October.
Bernie Moreno will headline the Chamber’s annual meeting in October, with additional details to be announced.
