Stucki to retire from Canton court, stay as visiting judge in Holmes

A Canton judge who has assisted Holmes County Common Pleas Court as a visiting judge hopes to continue in that capacity despite his decision to retire.

Stark County Family Court Senior Judge David E. Stucki announced his retirement March 21, having submitted his letter of resignation to Gov. John Kasich. His last day with family court will be May 1.

Stucki is one of two judges who agreed to provide their professional assistance to Holmes County after the appointment of Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Rinfret last year. Rinfret has previously served with the prosecuting attorney’s office, causing a conflict of interest. Stucki and Wayne County Common Pleas Judge Mark K. Wiest came in as visiting judges to hear these cases.

Stucki was hearing cases two days a week when he first started as a visiting judge, Rinfret said. The number of cases heard by Stucki has gone down since then, proof he is doing a good job working through the court docket, Rinfret said.

“He’s down from two days a week to one day every two weeks,” Rinfret said. “There are still cases where we have (a conflict) so there’s still work for him to do.”

Stucki said he plans to continue with the Holmes County court docket “if they’ll have me.”

According to the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division, Stucki was instrumental in establishing a diversion program for teens in the court system and other programs to help youngsters and their families. Stucki served the court for 19 years as judge.

He is currently secretary of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and is slated to become president of the council in 2013.

Rinfret said he will petition the state supreme court to allow Stucki to continue with Holmes County.

“He has 30-plus years of experience. It’s good to have that expertise,” Rinfret said.

Stucki cited “increasing family responsibilities and increasing national responsibilities” as the reasons for his resignation.