Judge Belskis

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION:

	DePauw University 1964-66
	Marquette University B.S. 1969
	Capital University J.D. 1975

ADMITTED TO BAR:

	State of Ohio 1975
	State of Florida 1976
	U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio 1976
	District of Columbia 1979
	U.S. Supreme Court 1979
	U.S. Tax Court 1980

PROFESSIONAL:

Elected Judge of the Franklin County Probate Court, 1990; re-elected 1996 and 2002

Private practice 15 years, 1976 - 1991, Partner: Teaford, Rich, Belskis, Coffman & Wheeler

Referee, Franklin County Probate Court, 1975 - 1976

Law Clerk to Probate Judge, Richard B. Metcalf, 1972 - 1975

National speaker on estates, guardianships, trusts, and taxation. Lectured before National College of Probate Judges, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Probate Law Institute, Ohio Judicial Conference, Ohio Legal Center Institute, Ohio State University Law School, Capital University Law School, Columbus Estate Planning Counsel, and numerous other legal, civic and charitable organizations.

Primary Author: H.B. 85 (2000) and H.B. 51 (2004) - Probate Reform. Legislation which shortens the time for the administration of decedents' estates and simplifies the probate process


COMMITTEES:


Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel , Elected 1989

National College of Probate Judges, Board of Trustees 1997 - 2004, President 2002 - 2003

American Judges Association, 2007 - present

Ohio Association of Probate Judges, Board of Trustees 1991 - present, President 1999-2001
Probate Forms and Rules Committee Legislative Committee, Co-Chairman
Ohio Judicial Conference, Executive Committee, 1994 - 2007
Co-Chairman Probate Law and Procedure Committee, 2000 - 2007 Co-Chairman Legislative Committee, 1994 - 2000
Board of Governors of the Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Section, Ohio State Bar Association, 1991 - present

Rules of Superintendence Committee of the Supreme Court of Ohio, 1993 - 1997

Probate Court Committee of the Columbus Bar Association, Past Member, Chairman 1980 - 1982

InterProfessional Committee of the Columbus Bar Association, Past Member, Chairman 1982 - 1983

Columbus Estate Planning Counsel, President 1979 - 1980

Founder of Franklin County Volunteer Guardian Program, 1994

Joint Committee on the Ohio Trust Code, 2005 - 2008
Sponsor eGovernance Board, to establish e-Filing in all Franklin County Courts.


AWARDS:


Recipient of the Franklin N. Flaschner Award from the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association as recognition of the nation's outstanding judge in a court of special and limited jurisdiction. (2001)

Recipient of National College of Probate Judges Top 10 Website Competition, 2003 - 2008

Recipient of the Columbus Bar Foundation and Columbus Bar Association Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Judge, for many years of service to pro bono efforts, including the Volunteer Guardian Program and National Adoption Day. (2007)

Recipient of the Ohio Association of Probate Judges Judicial Excellence Award. (2008)

Recipient of commendations from the Ohio Senate, Ohio House of Representatives, the National College of Probate Judges, the Ohio Association of Probate Judges, and the Ohio Judicial Conference.


CIVIC & CHARITABLE:


Recreation Unlimited, Board of Trustees (for physically and developmentally disabled children), 2000 - present

Dave Thomas Center for Adoption Law, Advisory Board, 1998 - 2003

Joseph A. Jeffrey Endowment Fund, Advisory Board, 1991 - present

Capital University, Board of Trustees, 2001 - 2006

Western Golf Association, Past Director, 2000 - 2006


Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, Inc., Board of Trustees, 1998 - 2000

Capital University Law School Alumni Association, Board of Trustees, 1995 - 1998

Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce, Past Member, President 1989

Westerville Music and Arts Festival, Chairman, 1986

Member of Charity Newsies, and Knights of Columbus

Organized and sponsored the program Estate Planning for First Responders which provided plans for over 500 firefighters, police officers, and spouses. (2008)


PERSONAL:

Wisconsin and Ohio National Guard (1970-1976), Specialist Six, Aide to Brigadier General Peletier, 16th Engineer Brigade

Awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 1976

Married to Amy Belskis (Marquette '70)
Two children, Alex (Duke '99) and Jessica (Stanford '01)

Recreational Interests - Golf, Hunting, Fly Fishing


Back to Top