Coil

Washington County Prosecutor Nicole Coil has been appointed to serve as a judge on the Washington County Court of Common Pleas, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mark Kerenyi.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced the appointment Thursday. Coil will assume office May 26 in the court’s General and Domestic Relations Division and will serve the remainder of the unexpired term. She must run for election in November to retain the seat, according to the governor’s office.

Kerenyi retired effective Feb. 28, concluding more than 32 years of public service that included time on the Common Pleas bench, as a juvenile court magistrate and as an assistant prosecuting attorney. During his nine years as a Common Pleas judge, he presided over criminal and civil cases and established the COMPASS Drug Court program, a specialty docket focused on treatment and rehabilitation for individuals with substance use disorders.

“It has been an extraordinary honor to serve the people of Washington County,” Kerenyi said in a statement released at the time of his retirement.

Coil said she is “humbled and grateful” for the appointment and described the transition as both an honor and a reflective moment in her career.

“It’s been an honor to have served Washington County as prosecuting attorney,” she said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity and for the relationships built with other elected officials, law enforcement and community partners.”

She said the role of prosecuting attorney has been one of the most meaningful of her career and emphasized the responsibility that comes with it.

“It is a very important position, and the weight of it has not been lost upon me,” Coil said. “It has been the honor of my career.”

Coil said the position offers a unique opportunity to handle both civil and criminal matters and to work closely with a wide range of agencies and officials.

She also offered encouragement for whoever is selected to succeed her as prosecutor.

“As long as you approach the position with humility and civility, I have great confidence the next person will be successful,” she said.

Coil said she intends to run in November to retain the judicial seat.

“This appointment fills a vacancy and does not provide a full term,” Coil said. “I am committed to running for the position in November and look forward to continuing in this role.”

She added that she will remain in her current position until taking office and is working to ensure a smooth transition of her caseload, including coordinating the transfer of civil and criminal cases.

Coil has served as Washington County’s prosecuting attorney since 2019, after joining the prosecutor’s office in 2015. She was selected to complete the remainder of the prosecutor’s term in 2019 by the Washington County Republican Central Committee and later elected to the position.

James Vuksic, speaking on behalf of the Washington County Republican Central Committee, said the county commissioners will appoint an interim prosecutor to fill Coil’s position. Within 40 days after Coil is sworn in, the central committee must meet to vote on a replacement, who will serve until the next general election.

“I’m really happy for her,” Vuksic said. “She’ll do amazingly.”

Coil began her legal career in 1994 as a clerk with Kimpel, Hyland, Weinkam & Goodson LPA and became an associate attorney there in 1996. She later worked as an associate attorney with Gustavson, Lewis & Jones Co. LPA before opening her own private practice in 2001.

A graduate of Wake Forest University with a bachelor’s degree in history, Coil earned her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1996.

Under Ohio law, the governor appoints a replacement to fill a Common Pleas Court vacancy until voters elect a judge to complete the term.