William G. Batchelder Quis Custodiet ipso Custodes — 22:11 RealAudio: Click Here to Listen Help Listening

William G. Batchelder was born and raised in Medina, Ohio, where he graduated from Medina High School. He earned his undergraduate degree in history at Ohio Wesleyan University and his juris doctor degree at The Ohio State University, where he was a member of the National Moot Court Competition team. He was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives while on active duty with the U.S. Army.

Batchelder practiced law in Medina, Ohio for 31 years with the law firm of Williams & Batchelder. His practice focused on the areas of personal injury litigation, corporate law, probate and estate planning.

Batchelder also served in the Ohio House of Representatives for over thirty years. During that time, he served as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Vice-Chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee. He also acted as ranking member at various times on the House Judiciary Committee and House Financial Institutions Committee. From 1995 to 1998, Batchelder served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House and Vice-Chairman of the Reference and Rules Committee.

Batchelder was elected to the Common Pleas Court of Medina County where he served briefly, prior to his appointment to the Ninth District Court of Appeals by Governor Bob Taft. Batchelder was elected to the appellate bench in November 2000. He served as Presiding Judge from January 2000 to December 2001.

Batchelder has also been selected by the Supreme Court of Ohio to serve on the Ohio Board of Bar Examiners. He is the recipient of the Ohio State Bar Public Service Award and an Honorary Graduate of The University of Akron School of Law. Batchelder currently is a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Office of Criminal Justice Services, Ohio Court of Appeals Association and the Ohio, Akron, Lorain County, Medina County, and Wayne County Bar Associations. He has also served as an adjunct professor of law at The University of Akron School of Law.

Batchelder and his wife, Alice, who is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, live in Medina. They have two children, William G. Batchelder IV and Elizabeth Richards Batchelder.