Judge Kim A. Browne: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Hon. Kim A. Browne is a judge for the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas (Domestic Relations and Juvenile Division) in Ohio. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor Bob Taft in 2002. Browne was re-elected in 2004, 2010 and 2016.

During her judicial tenure, she was elected to serve as the administrative judge and lead juvenile judge. Brown was also credited with helping to establish the Mini-Moot Court Competition for high school-aged students and the All Rize College Tour for at-risk youth. In addition, she was chair of the Franklin County Juvenile Justice Community Planning Initiative/JDAI and co-chair of the Bring Your Child to Work Day Program.

Browne received a B.A. in economics from the University of Cincinnati in 1990. She went on to complete a J.D. at Ohio State University, Michael E. Moritz College of Law in 1993. While a law student, Browne was a volunteer for VITA and was elected to the Student Government.

Prior to her appointment, she had practiced as an associate in the law firm of Maguire & Schneider, LLP (2001 to 2002). Before that, Browne was the Director of Legal Operations for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (1996 to 2001). During her six-year tenure with the Bureau, she also served as Director of Employee and Labor Relations and as a State Workplace Mediator.

Before joining the Bureau, she worked as a special assistant to the Human Resources Deputy Director and as a Labor Relations Specialist in the Office of Collective Bargaining with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (1994 to 1996). Browne began her legal career as an arbitration clerk for the Ohio Civil Service Employees’ Association (1992 to 1994).

In addition, she was chair of the 191st Engineer Co. Family Support Group and worked with the Columbus Bar Association’s Homeless Project to provide pro bono legal services to underprivileged citizens. Browne was also a member of Governor Taft’s Pro Bono Implementation Policy Committee.

She has taught as an adjunct professor for Ohio Dominican University and oversaw the Court of Common Pleas’ Judicial Extern program in conjunction with the Ohio State University, Michael E. Moritz College of Law and Capital University College of Law.

Browne has held memberships with the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence Task Force, the Juvenile Sub-Committee, the Ohio Association of Domestic Relations Judges (Executive Committee), the Ohio Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee, the National Council of Juvenile/Family Court Judges, the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges, the Ohio Women’s Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the John Mercer Langston Bar Association, and the Columbus Bar Association.

Her civic involvement has included the DAS Adopt-A-School Project, Women-to-Women Business Networking/Mentoring, Directions for Youth and Families, Art for a Child’s Safe America Foundation, the Lighthouse Project, and the Community Collaboration Board.

Browne and her husband, Steven, a high school assistant principal, have two daughters.

She is registered as a Democrat.