Serving Montgomery County with fairness, patience, and sound judgment.
The most important responsibility of anyone who serves the Court is improving the day-to-day lives of the people in our community.
Justice is not abstract. It's not just something discussed in textbooks or court opinions—it affects real people, every single day. It affects families working to build a better life, small businesses fighting to survive, victims seeking accountability, and defendants hoping to be heard. The decisions made in our courts shape lives, and they shape the kind of community we choose to be.
Montgomery County isn't just where I work and live. It's where my wife and I decided to raise our family. It's where we built the life we wanted. Our County is full of people just like us working to support their family, building businesses, and putting their trust in a system that is supposed to treat them fairly. That trust matters.
While I may not be the oldest candidate in this race, I have spent my career in the courtroom, standing beside everyday people in some of the most difficult moments of their lives. I've seen firsthand what happens when the system works—and when it doesn't. I've worked to solve real problems, to listen, and to fight within the law to reach fair and just outcomes.
Every judicial candidate will talk about protecting constitutional rights, upholding the rule of law, and improving our justice system. Some will point to rehabilitation for criminal defendants, others to civility in the courtroom. Those principles matter. But they only matter if someone is willing to live them out.
Too often, candidates speak about these ideals and aspirations, but without action, they risk becoming nothing more than buzzwords meant to capture your attention and your vote.
I believe being a judge is not about repeating generic or empty statements that sound good before an election but fail to match a judge's conduct or decisions once they take the bench. It's about showing up every day with patience, humility, and the discipline to do what is right—even when it's difficult. It's about listening carefully, treating every person with dignity, and never losing sight of the real lives behind every case.
That is how I have approached my career, and that is the mindset I will bring to the bench.
What Derek Muncy will bring to the bench
A campaign grounded in transparency, accountability, fairness, and practical experience.
Transparency
Transparency is a central theme of this campaign because Derek Muncy wants to help create a more open and accessible court.
Public trust depends on people understanding how the courts work and why decisions are made. Derek believes the rule of law cannot survive without transparency.
If elected, he will work to expand access to the court, demystify the legal process, and make court operations more understandable by sharing helpful information and data with the public.
He will also strive to issue thoughtful, well-explained decisions so litigants understand not only the outcome, but the reasoning behind it.
Accountability
Accountability matters to this campaign for two reasons: the courts must remain accountable to the people, and a judge must hold those who cause harm accountable for their actions.
Derek believes a more open and transparent court creates better accountability by making room for feedback from litigants, attorneys, and the public.
One of his core values is simple: make it better. A truly accountable court should always be asking how it can improve.
Inside the courtroom, accountability matters just as much. Whether the responsible party is an individual, a business, an attorney, or a government entity, Derek will apply the law fairly and consistently.
Fairness
Derek Muncy believes fairness means more than simply applying the law correctly. It means making sure every person who enters the courtroom feels heard, respected, and treated with dignity.
Throughout his career, he has represented individuals, families, and businesses facing very different challenges. That work has taught him that every case matters and every person deserves to be taken seriously.
As an attorney, he has worked to ensure that his clients are not only heard, but truly understood. That is the perspective he will bring to the bench.
Derek will work to reduce unnecessary gamesmanship, promote professionalism, and apply the law consistently to all parties.
Tested Character & Grounded Experience
Derek believes a judge should be more than a good attorney. What makes him uniquely qualified is not only his courtroom experience, but also his character and life experience outside the courtroom.
He was raised in a working-class family in Southwest Ohio. His mother works in a factory making car parts, and his father worked as a corrections officer. From an early age, he learned the value of hard work, responsibility, and earning everything you have.
Derek earned a football scholarship to Malone University, graduated with honors, later attended the University of Dayton School of Law on scholarship, and worked hard at every stage to build a life for his family in Montgomery County.
As a first-generation attorney, husband, father, and member of this community, he understands that every case involves real people, real consequences, and real lives. That grounded perspective is what he will bring to the bench every day.
What Derek Muncy Will Work to Improve
A court that is more efficient, more transparent, and more focused on outcomes that make Montgomery County safer.
Work to End the Revolving Door of Recidivism
In our state, nearly one-third of all incarcerated individuals will return to state prison within three years of their release. This revolving door of recidivism is an unnecessary burden to the taxpayer and makes our community less safe.
When elected, it is my goal to establish a reentry docket to ensure that when an individual returns to this community from incarceration, we have a plan to make them a productive member of the community.
Two other Ohio counties and the local federal court already utilize re-entry courts. There is no reason why Montgomery County Common Pleas Court does not have a re-entry specialized docket.
Improve Communication and Efficiency
As a defense attorney, I frequently represent clients with cases in multiple courts throughout the County. We often waste resources on pretrial supervision, probation, or sentencing because the various courts of the County simply fail to communicate.
On the civil side of the docket, some cases drag on without end in sight.
When elected, it will be my goal to identify and correct the many communication and efficiency issues to reduce both wasted time and money for our taxpayers and litigants. It is my goal to create an environment where attorneys can get cases resolved without unnecessary litigation.
Build Trust Through an Open, Accessible, and Visible Court
When elected, it is my goal to increase transparency and accountability to build trust between our court and the people it serves. The people of Montgomery County deserve to know what goes on in the courthouse, how much it costs, and why.
We are already lucky to have judges who engage with the community to discuss how the court works and why. But we can, and should, do more.
When elected, I will work to grow the court's current civic outreach to help demystify the legal process and gather feedback from the community.
League of Women Voters Candidate Responses
Derek Muncy recently responded to questions from the League of Women Voters about his experience, judicial role models, and alternatives to incarceration.
Describe your experience that qualifies you to be a Common Pleas Court Judge.
I maintain a broad general practice handling both civil and criminal cases, ranging from high-level felonies to general civil litigation, including contract disputes, property disputes, and civil rights claims. I represent plaintiffs and defendants in courts across the region.
Outside the courtroom, my background and experience reflect my ability to be fair, impartial, and objective. As the husband of a nurse, the son of a corrections officer and factory worker, and the father of two girls, I am sensitive to the challenges and needs of the individuals who appear before the Common Pleas Court.
Who would you choose as a mentor or role model as a judge, and why?
Montgomery County is fortunate to have many great judges who serve as role models, remain engaged in the community, and command respect regardless of party affiliation.
I am particularly inspired by the federal judges who established and implemented the reentry court program for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, including Judges Rice, Rose, and Newman. Many of our local judges also serve on civic boards and maintain specialized dockets, such as Veterans Treatment Court, in an effort to improve the lives of the people in our county.
I hope to build upon the strong foundation laid by the judges who serve our community.
What alternatives to incarceration do you support for convicted offenders?
I frequently advocate for alternatives to incarceration for my clients, ranging from intensive supervision to in-patient treatment. Many defendants appear before the court with severe addiction or mental health issues that will not be resolved by incarceration alone.
While incarceration may be necessary in some cases, the principles and purposes of sentencing require an approach that promotes effective rehabilitation of the offender, uses the minimum sanctions necessary, and avoids imposing an unnecessary burden on government resources.