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THE GOLD MEDAL STANDARD
Did you stay up late at night and get up
early in the morning during the middle two
weeks in August to watch Team USA go for
the gold? I did and I enjoyed many of the
most exciting moments of the Summer Olympics
in Beijing. Athletes who have trained for
a lifetime gave their all representing their
countries in hopes of winning a Gold Medal.
Michael Phelps led the way. He set a new
standard for Gold Medal performance. Phelps
left China with a treasure chest full of
gold, millions of adoring fans and presumably
enough endorsement contracts to make him
financially secure for the rest of his life.
We need not span the globe to look for Gold
Medal performances. Ohio’s magistrates
and judges give Gold Medal performances
every day in every court in every county
and municipality in Ohio. We are not motivated
by shiny trinkets to wear around our necks
and we are not greeted with standing ovations
from thousands of fans every time we write
a decision. We are certainly not rewarded
with vast wealth. Instead, we are motivated
by the knowledge that our work helps to
maintain the rule of law in our society.
Like elite athletes, we draw on a lifetime
of education and experience in performing
our judicial duties. Like members of Team
USA who support and encourage each other
to give their best performances, we support,
aid and encourage our colleagues to do the
same on the bench. Just as sports fans expect
Herculean efforts from their athletes, our
public -- the citizens of Ohio -- expect
and deserve our best performances.
The OAM is made up of nearly 500 of the
best, brightest and hardest working magistrates
and judges in Ohio. The OAM and our partners
at the Ohio Judicial College provide Gold
Medal CLE to magistrates and judges throughout
Ohio. The OAM also provides resources, networking
opportunities and hospitality that are second
to none. The OAM’s goal is for our
members to achieve Gold every day, not for
our own personal glory, but for the benefit
of the citizens of Ohio.
Let
the OAM Board know what we can do to support
you as we strive to meet the Gold Medal
Standard for judicial service. That’s
how we as an organization can maintain our
gold standard. Although we, as individuals
and as an organization, might never achieve
the same glorious gold as Michael Phelps,
we are Champions none the less. We are Champions
for justice in our society. And we should
always “Go for the Gold!”
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