Judge Jill T. Worthington
Van Wert Municipal Court Judge since November 5, 2010. (2nd female judge elected in Van Wert County at age 39)
- Education
- Graduated from Van Wert High School, Class of 1989
B.A. Psychology from The Ohio State University, 1999, Magna Cum Laude
Juris Doctorate, Ohio Northern University, 2002 - Employment
- My legal career began in the Law Offices of Steven L. Diller as a public defender attorney in 2002. From September, 2003, until December, 2006, I served as Van Wert City Law Director and was the prosecutor in Van Wert Municipal Court. Immediately before being appointed to the bench, I was a Senior Claims Attorney at Central Mutual Insurance Co. (2007-2010). I am also admitted to practice in the U.S. Federal District Court, Northern District of Ohio and to the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.
- Community Involvement
- I am a member of First United Methodist Church of Van Wert. For six (6) years, I served as a Board Member for the YWCA of Van Wert County Board of Directors, including three (3) years as Board President. In 2004, I was selected as a YWCA Woman of Achievement. Currently, I am a member of the Van Wert Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio Judicial Conference, the Association of Municipal and County Court Judges, the American Judges Association, and the National Judicial College. I have also served as a member of the Van Wert County Law Library Association and the Public Defenders’ Commission. Currently, I am a member of the B.P.O. Elks #1197 since 2003. Previous community service involvement included membership in AAUW (American Association of University Women) and Community Health Professionals, Private Duty Nursing and Hospice-The Caring Way Boards of Directors, and the Starr Commonwealth Advisory Board. I also served on the Day of Caring and Agency Relations Committees of the United Way of Van Wert during my three-year term on the Board of Trustees. Most recently from 2018-2019, I was a Board Member at the Wassenberg Art Center. In 2024, I will be joining the Help Me Grow Advisory Board through the Van Wert Co. Health Department.
- Personal
- Born & raised in Van Wert. Married to Dr. Craig E. Hanson. Together, we have six children, his four and my two. With our recent marriage, I inherited two beautiful grandchildren as well. Craig and I are foodies and we like to travel to experience other cultures and cuisines.