The Honorable Kenneth M. Lieux was first elected Judge of the Vermilion Municipal Court in November, 2025.

Judge Lieux’s biography will be posted as soon as it is available.

Judge Kenneth M. Lieux
Vermilion Municipal Court
687 Decatur Street
Vermilion, Ohio 44089
440-204-2430 (office); 440-204-2431 (fax)
Website: Vermilion Municipal Court

Humor, excitement as Kenneth Lieux sworn
in as Vermilion Municipal Judge

Owen MacMillan | The Chronicle-Telegram | 12.30.2025

VERMILION — Kenneth Lieux was in high spirits Tuesday as he was sworn in as the new Vermilion Municipal Court judge in a courtroom packed with his friends, colleagues and supporters.

Lieux, a longtime defense attorney, maintained the humor that has made him a favorite in courtrooms across Lorain and Erie counties, but grew emotional when thanking all those who had mentored and supported him in his legal career.

“I want to start off by giving you all fair warning, because usually when I am standing in a courtroom and asked to address a group of people, sometimes at the end of my remarks, somebody goes to jail,” Lieux said. “… Well, I can say today, no one is going to jail.”

Lieux promised that his careerlong pursuit of justice would continue from the bench.

“It has been a privilege of mine to be a lawyer, and hopefully I have helped some people along the way achieve justice,” Lieux said. “I am very proud to be getting onto this next chapter to continue that endeavor.”

Outgoing Municipal Judge Zack Dolyk told Lieux, who won the election to replace him in November, that much would change now that he was a judge, including the fact his jokes will suddenly get a better reaction.

Dolyk got in on the fun, recounting a story about a shopping trip to Giant Eagle during which he happened to run into a man he had just sentenced to probation on an “alcohol offense” carrying a 12-pack of beer. Upon seeing Dolyk, the judge said, he promptly dropped the beer and ran out of the store.

“But seriously, most people that come in front of you are people who just made a mistake,” Dolyk said. “They have never been to court before, they have never met a judge before, so what you do and say is going to have a profound impact, probably in ways you don’t even imagine. Years later, people may come up to you and say ‘Thank you, I was in a bad place in my life and you helped me.’ That makes it all worthwhile, it is a great job.”

He then presented Lieux with his commission from Gov. Mike DeWine, which formally empowers Lieux to serve as judge.

In November, Lieux, an independent candidate, claimed 62 percent of the vote in the nonpartisan race to replace Dolyk, who couldn’t run again due to age limits. Lieux defeated former Lorain County Domestic Relations Judge David Berta to become the seventh judge in Vermilion Municipal Court’s 65-year history.

The court has only one judge, with jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal and traffic charges in the Vermilion and Brownhelm Township in Lorain County, and Vermilion Township and Florence Township in Erie County.

Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Rothgery, a friend and colleague, swore Lieux in. For the ceremony, Lieux placed his hand on a copy of the U.S. Constitution held by his grandson Julian Lieux.

“I have always been impressed by Ken’s diligence, preparation, confidence and civility,” Rothgery said. “As thrilled as I am that he has found himself in this new and exciting position, I am truly saddened by the loss to our local bar of the person I consider to be the best trial attorney who practices in front of me on a regular basis. The Vermilion Municipal Court’s gain is the loss of those seeking quality representation in Lorain County and surrounding areas.”

After he was sworn in and addressed those gathered, Lieux’s first judge’s robe was placed on him by his wife, Alisa Lieux.

Lieux acknowledged every one of the judges present at the ceremony, saying he had appeared before every one of them with the exception of the others who had just been elected.

He said he was proud to be a part of a historic judicial election in Lorain County, which included Linda Webber becoming the first woman elected as Lorain Municipal Judge and new Oberlin Municipal Judge Farah Emeka’s election as the first Black woman to be a judge in Lorain County.

It also included, of course, Lieux said with a grin, himself as the first Cajun to serve as a judge in Lorain or Erie counties (Lieux’s grandfather was Cajun French and hailed from New Orleans originally).

With his new role, Lieux is closing his private practice and decided to “pass the torch” to his daughter, Elyria attorney Maggie Lieux, during the ceremony by gifting her his copy of “Pathology of Homicide” by Lester Adelson.

“It is hard to believe, but I am closing the chapter on being a lawyer, or a practicing lawyer,” Lieux said. “I have been honored to have held that position, and I pledge to do everything I can to do justice for anybody who comes into this court.”