Ohio Bar honors Judge Dean Wilson and Virtual Self-Help Centers in Cuyahoga, Lorain and Montgomery counties with awards for excellence and innovation
In recognition of judicial excellence and innovation, Ohio State Bar Association 2026-2027 President Jan Allen Baughman presented the 2026 Thomas J. Moyer Award for Judicial Excellence to Judge Dean Wilson and the 2026 Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award to the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court, Lorain County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court and the Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court for their Virtual Self-Help Centers. Both awards were presented as part of the Ohio Judicial Conference annual meeting at the Hilton Easton Columbus on Sept. 17.
Thomas J. Moyer Award for Judicial Excellence
The Moyer award was established in 2010 by the Ohio State Bar Association (Ohio Bar) in honor of the late chief justice, who was posthumously given the inaugural award. It seeks to recognize a current or former Ohio state or federal judge in the Moyer mold, who displays outstanding qualities of judicial excellence including integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, professionalism, ethics, creativity, sound judgment, courage and decisiveness.
Judge Dean Wilson proudly served the people of Perry County for 33 years on the bench of the Perry County Municipal Court.
Throughout his career, Judge Wilson demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice and to his community. His judicial philosophy is grounded in accessibility, dignity and the belief that courts must evolve to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Among his most impactful contributions is the creation of the Perry County New Directions Drug Court, a specialized docket he envisioned, developed and implemented in response to the growing substance-use crisis in rural Ohio. Recognizing the community costs of addiction, Judge Wilson convened an advisory committee in 2015, studied best practices and built a program tailored to the unique needs of Perry County. Launched in 2016, the New Directions Drug Court embodies the principles of accountability, compassion and evidence-based intervention. With an 81% success rate under Judge Wilson’s leadership and consistent reports from participants that they felt seen, respected and supported, the drug court is one of Wilson’s many lasting legacies in Perry County.
Statewide, Judge Wilson has been a leader in expanding public understanding of and access to the courts. He has been a champion of driver’s license reinstatement programs that remove barriers to employment and stability. And as president of the Ohio Bar in 2022-2023, he worked as a steadfast advocate for access to attorneys in underserved areas. Now retired from the bench, Judge Wilson continues to give back as a visiting judge, sitting by assignment in courts across the state.
“Judge Wilson has a profound love for the people of his county, the State of Ohio and the legal profession,” said President Baughman. “For decades, he has shown a commitment to fairness, innovation and principled judicial service where everyone is treated with dignity and respect — all hallmarks of a great jurist. Judge Wilson has been an inspiration to me and countless others and I am proud to recognize him with the Moyer Award this year.”
Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award
The Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award, sponsored by the Ohio Bar Justice Administration and Innovation Committee, seeks to highlight and bring greater visibility to exemplary programs in Ohio’s courts and to facilitate the transfer of those programs to other jurisdictions. Award submissions are evaluated on criteria including creativity, the newness of the program, its effectiveness and whether the program addresses significant issues that are regional in scope.
This year, three courts were recognized: the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court, the Lorain County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court and the Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court. All three courts worked in conjunction with the technology nonprofit Ohio Legal Help to establish Virtual Self-Help Centers to make going to court easier.
Virtual Self-Help Centers provide critical court information and allow users to fill out, edit, save and complete court forms right from their mobile phones or computers in matters like divorce, child custody and protection orders. The centers also offer support through an automated chatbot, which can provide navigation help, answer commonly asked questions and walk users through the forms they need to complete.
This effective use of technology to modernize court services makes navigating the court system less intimidating and more accessible, particularly for people who otherwise would need to arrange travel, childcare and time off work to visit court. The platform also encourages and helps users to connect with an attorney for their legal problems.
To date, more than 93,000 users have been assisted with legal information and process questions via the Virtual Self-Help Centers. More than 30,000 users found assistance with court forms. And more than 80% of users rate their experience as positive and helpful. Most of the users on the platforms are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
“When Ohioans face urgent legal challenges, access to the courts can make all the difference,” said President Baughman. “Virtual Self-Help Centers have used technology to open that door for thousands of people, while helping courts operate more efficiently through more complete and accurate filings. Their impact is strengthening access to justice across Ohio.
Founded in 1880, the Ohio Bar is the state’s largest legal network, representing attorneys, judges, legal professionals and law students. The Ohio Bar is committed to promoting justice and advancing the legal profession.