Judge Jerry L. Buckler has dedicated his life to serving others and giving back to his community. Over the years, he has worn many hats, high school math teacher, coach, attorney, magistrate, PTO president, prosecutor, school board member, and now, Family Court Judge. He has also been a tireless advocate for children and individuals with developmental disabilities.

In his role as Domestic Relations Judge in Scioto County, Judge Buckler works directly with families facing serious challenges, including substance abuse, domestic violence, and family instability. He understands the weight of his decisions and their lasting impact, particularly on children. He is deeply grateful for the trust the community has placed in him, calling his role “humbling,” and is guided by the belief that “real people, with real problems, need real solutions.”

A 1983 graduate of Valley High School, Judge Buckler went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Rio Grande College (1987), a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Ohio University (1991), and a Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School (1996), where he served as associate editor of the Law Review.

Judge Buckler was first elected to the Domestic Relations Division of the Scioto County Court of Common Pleas in 2012, taking office in January 2013. He was re-elected in 2018 and again in 2024. He remains an active member of the Ohio judicial community, having served two terms as a trustee of the Ohio Association of Domestic Relations Judges (OADRJ) before being elected Vice President of the organization.

Raised in a working-class family, Judge Buckler often credits his late father, a laborer who never completed high school, as the smartest man he’s ever known, and proudly calls himself a “momma’s boy.” He is married to Lisa, a supervisor at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Together, they have two children: Adrienne, an attorney, and Adam, a dentist.