Scioto County prosecutor and judge named new judge

Rebecca Bennett of Portsmouth will transition from justice of the peace to judge in the Scioto County Probate and Juvenile Division, where she previously served as justice of the peace since 2015.

Governor Mike DeWine today appointed Bennett to fill the seat of retired Judge R. Alan Lemons.

Her term begins July 22, 2024. Bennett will need to run for re-election this November to retain her appointed position.

Benett had practice in custody areas; abuse, neglect and dependency; divorce; wills and estates; civil disputes; and juvenile delinquency.

She received her bachelor’s degree in political science in 1984 and her law degree in 1988, both from Capital University.

Bennett began her career as an assistant prosecutor in Scioto County in 1992. She also practiced law in the private sector at the Law Offices of Stephen C. Rodeheffer before returning to the position of Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2002.

Bennett became an assistant prosecutor in Adams County in 2005 and later in 2011 became an assistant solicitor and city attorney in Portsmouth.

In her community, Bennett is a member of the Portsmouth Rotary Club, CRADLE Pregnancy Care Center and Temple Baptist Church. He currently attends Grace Fellowship at Bigelow Church.

The newly appointed judge is also active in several organizations, including the Ohio Justices of the Peace Association, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Scioto County Bar Association.