Kettering prosecutor joins municipal court bench

A Kettering city prosecutor has been appointed as a Kettering Municipal Court judge.

James Francis Long’s appointment was announced by Gov. John Kasich’s office on Friday afternoon. The Dayton man, who is taking his seat on the bench Feb. 5, is replacing Judge Thomas M. Hanna, who retired.

Long must run again in November to retain his seat for the rest of the term, which ends in December 2017.

His educational background includes having earned a bachelor of arts in political science from Ohio Northern University and a juris doctorate from Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law.

His resume includes experience as a public defender in Montgomery County.

Long also has run his own law practice and is head coach as well as assistant program coordinator of the South Dayton Knights Basketball Club. He has coached and mentored a number of sports teams in the community, according to the governor’s office.