A new judge is joining the Portage County Municipal Court bench to take the place of Judge Mark K. Fankhauser, who died earlier this year.

MaryBeth Kiah, of Aurora, was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine. She will assume office on July 14 and must run for election in November 2027 to retain the seat.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed to the bench by Gov. Mike DeWine, as this represents the fulfillment of a lifelong dream and the culmination of a career devoted to public service,” said Judge Kiah. “I look forward to serving the people of Portage County with fairness, integrity, and a commitment to justice.”

Judge Kiah’s dedication to public service has included roles with the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office, the Portage County Public Defender’s Office, the City of Stow, and the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office.

She graduated in 2008 from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She later earned her Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School in 2012.

That same year, she began her law career working as a criminal defense attorney in Lorain before heading to the public sector.

Judge Kiah also served as assistant chief counsel in the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She is currently an associate attorney at a Ravenna law firm.