Sara Lioi, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today the passing of Magistrate Judge William H. Baughman, Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio, who has served on that court for the last 24-½ years.

Magistrate Judge Baughman was initially appointed to an eight-year term in February 2000 by the Judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and then subsequently reappointed to second and third eight-year terms. Upon his retirement in July 2022, Magistrate Judge Baughman continued to serve the court in retired recalled status.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Magistrate Judge Baughman was a partner at the Cleveland law firm of Weston, Hurd, Fallon, Paisley & Howley, L.L.P. His practice concentrated on commercial, employment, products liability, and appellate litigation. He chaired the firm’s Appellate Practice Group. 

After graduation from Saint Vincent College and Notre Dame Law School, Magistrate Judge Baughman began his legal career as law clerk to Judges Roger J. Kiley and John Paul Stevens at the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago. John Paul Stevens later served as a Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Then Chief Judge Pierce Lively of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit appointed him as a charter member of the Court’s Attorney Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedures. He chaired the Advisory Committee for four years. Magistrate Judge Baughman was a Life Member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference.  He previously served on the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Committee on Dispute Resolution.

Locally, Magistrate Judge Baughman was active in the Cleveland Bar Association and served as chair of the Association’s Section of Litigation. He held an appointment to the adjunct faculty at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University, where he taught Advanced Brief Writing and Oral Argument. Magistrate Judge Baughman authored numerous articles that have appeared in such publications as the Ohio State Law Journal, the Toledo Law Review, and the Cleveland Bar Journal and had written a chapter in the Sixth Circuit Federal Practice Manual.

Chief Judge Lioi remarked that our court family deeply mourns the loss of our dear colleague and friend, the Honorable William H. Baughman, Jr., who will be remembered for his love of family, unfailing politeness, warmth and collegiality, keen intellect, unwavering commitment and service to the Court, adherence to the rule of law, and heartfelt patriotism for our nation.

In memory of Magistrate Judge Baughman, flags will be flown at half-staff at all courthouses in the Northern District of Ohio on Friday, July 12, 2024, and Saturday, July 13, 2024. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio extends to the 40 northernmost counties of the state and holds court in Toledo, Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown.

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For further information, please contact­ Sandy Opacich, Clerk of Court, (216) 357-7068.