Judge Kelly Linger has filed to retain her seat on the Columbiana County Municipal Court bench. 

Linger is from Columbiana County, graduating from Beaver Local Highschool in 1997 and attending Kent State University and Cleveland Marshall College of Law to receive her law degree in 2006.

Judge Linger spent 18 years of practicing law, including 17 in the Columbiana County, where she operated a private law firm handling a variety of cases including civil and criminal litigation for 16 years.

While maintaining private practice, she also spent 14 years as a public defender representing those accused of crimes at all levels. 

She was also the President of the Columbiana County Defense League for four of those 14 years while also being an acting Judge in the East Liverpool Municipal Court. 

In 2021, Linger was hired by current County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino, to work for his administration and handle a variety of civil and criminal cases.

She left the position to be appointed Judge of the Columbiana County Municipal Court by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

Judge Linger has represented plaintiffs as well as defendants in civil cases, landlords, tenants and criminal defendants, as well as victims of crime throughout 18 years of service. 

She believes that her appointment to the bench was based on her extensive and diverse legal background compared to other candidates.

Judge Linger says, "There is no type of case that would come before me as judge that I haven't personally handled throughout my career, making me uniquely qualified to continue to serve as your Municipal Court Judge".

Since taking the bench, Judge Linger has launched programs providing legal assistance for veterans and workshops to help residents overcome barriers to obtaining valid driver's licenses. 

Linger is also a member of the Federalist Society, NRA, Association of Municipal/County Court Judges, Inc., Conservatives in Action Caucus and Columbiana County Farm Bureau and others.