'I want every child to have a Seneca county experience'

Seneca County native and Mohawk High School graduate Kari Bloom was elected as juvenile court judge in Hamilton County this election, and she's excited to get to work in her new post. Bloom grew up in rural Seneca county and eventually went on to graduate from Bowling Green State University in 2008 and from the University of Cincinnati in 2011. Her experiences from her childhood to college led her to realize her passion was in juvenile justice. This passion directed her to the newest stage of her career, juvenile court judge for Hamilton County. In college, Bloom worked on the Innocence Project as well as in the Children's Law Center in Kentucky. Her experiences seeing children in juvenile detention centers or jail appalled her. "Children were being treated like grizzled old men who are criminals with no future," Bloom said. Seeing the poor treatment of children, Bloom was a leading force behind a federal lawsuit. The lawsuit was created to ensure that children in custody would receive better education and better living situations. "Kids need to be treated like kids and that was not happening," Bloom said. Although Bloom worked in several facets of law over the years, such as a trial attorney and legislative liaison, she always found her home was working with and for children. She successfully gained her coveted position as a juvenile court judge after defeating incumbent Judge John Williams with a little over 56% of the vote this election. In her new role, Bloom plans to use restorative justice and different programming to help children who find themselves in legal trouble. "Kids tend to buy in to programs when they have the tools to change and feel in charge," she said. The various programs Bloom wants to work with will help children understand why what they did is wrong and will be given the opportunity to talk to the people who their actions have affected. When it comes to the epidemic of opioid addiction in Ohio, Bloom believes it is important to continue programs for adults. But she also would like to implement a program that is a sort of rehabilitation program for children that have been exposed to addiction. Bloom's main goal as a juvenile court judge is to provide children opportunities to learn from their mistakes and to be treated well. "I grew up loving my area and loving my school. Moving to a bigger city showed me that not every kid has that growing up. "I want every child to have a Seneca county experience," Bloom said.