Three new judges are taking the bench in counties across Ohio this May. Each was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill open seats left by judges who resigned from office.

Cuyahoga County

In Cuyahoga County, Pamela Hawkins, of Highland Heights, was appointed to the domestic relations court. She began her new role on May 4 and must run for election in November to retain the seat.

Before beginning her legal career, Judge Hawkins spent a decade as a social worker, connecting individuals to mental health services, assisting children and adults with developmental disabilities, and developing childcare services for a private nonprofit organization. She maintains her independent social worker license to this day.

Judge Hawkins pursued her law degree in the early 2000s, earning her Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University College of Law in 2003. After clerking for a law firm in Cleveland, she worked in litigation support for a private records acquisition company. In 2010, Judge Hawkins became an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office Children and Family Services Unit. In 2015, she returned to private practice, covering a variety of areas, from criminal defense to domestic relations, to probate and bankruptcy.

Judge Hawkins looks forward to her next chapter in the judiciary.

“I am honored by this opportunity to become a judge,” she said. “I am committed to working with the court and litigants to resolve their issues.”

Montgomery County

Steven Abshire, of Dayton, began his position as a judge in the general division of the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on May 4. He must run for election in November to retain the seat.

Judge Abshire has served in many roles throughout his legal career, each contributing to his new position as judge.

“I am honored about my appointment to the bench,” said Judge Abshire. “Throughout my career as assistant prosecutor, defense attorney, magistrate, and now as judge, I have remained committed to the rights of every person who comes before the court and to the citizens of Montgomery County, Ohio.”

Judge Abshire began his journey to the bench after graduating with his Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law in 2000. His first job out of law school was at the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office, where he worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney from 2000 to 2011. During that time, he served in the support division, child protection unit, child abuse bureau, and criminal division.

In 2012, Judge Abshire entered private practice at a Kettering law firm. He practiced in many areas of the law, including criminal defense, employment law, tort defense, family law, and business law.

He later joined a firm in Dayton in 2018 where he served as lead litigator in divorce and custody matters. In 2022, he became a magistrate for the Greene County Juvenile Court.

Joining Judge Abshire at the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court is Nicholas Sylvain, who was appointed to the juvenile division.

Judge Sylvain, of Kettering, will assume office on May 18 and must run for election in November to retain the seat.

"I am humbled that I will be able to continue my service to the people of Montgomery County through this new opportunity with the Juvenile Court,” he said. "It is truly exciting that I will be able to leverage 32 years of legal experience to help children and families of my home county find justice and improve their lives."

A 1993 graduate of William & Mary Law School, Judge Sylvain gained legal experience while studying for his Juris Doctor by conducting legal research over his summer breaks, first for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C., and later for a circuit court judge in Norfolk, Virginia. He also represented indigent clients in child support cases and unemployment compensation claims through his school’s legal aid clinic.

After graduating, Judge Sylvain moved back to Dayton to begin his career as an assistant prosecuting attorney at the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, where he served from 1993 until 2002. His work included felony trial litigation and serving as a supervising attorney for the Family Violence Unit.

In 2002, Judge Sylvain became a magistrate in the domestic relations division of the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, where he handled motions and trials pertaining to custody and parenting time, domestic violence protection orders, and interstate child support. He served in that position until his appointment to the bench.