Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla Favor announces that a transition team, composed of local leaders, legal experts, and community advocates, will be formed today. The announcement, detailing the 14-member squad tasked with guiding the county prosecutor's office into a new era, focuses distinctly on community perspectives and criminal justice reform. Favor, making history as the first Black and first female prosecuting attorney in Franklin County, emphasizes her commitment to creating a justice system as restorative as it is just. "My aim with this transition team was to assemble a diverse group of people who have been effective in addressing different aspects of public safety and community support," Favor said in a statement obtained by Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla Favor.
The team, chaired by Janet E. Jackson, includes individuals with various experiences, from a retired police officer to legal and civic organization leaders. Among the names is David A. Ingram, who serves as co-chair and brings his experience as senior associate general counsel at The Ohio State University. Those named are expected to spearhead an overhaul of prosecutor's office procedures and assist in identifying pressing issues within the community. Their collective backgrounds suggest a holistic approach by Favor's office to address public safety and community support with fresh strategies and perspectives.
The 12-to-18-month tenure of the team will involve developing a blueprint for Favor's term, aiming to tackle the root causes of crime and introducing transformative legal practices. Janet E. Jackson, who boasts experience as a former Columbus city attorney and Franklin County Municipal Court judge and as the former leader of the United Way of Central Ohio, will chair the transition team. Her record includes entering the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame and the City of Columbus Hall of Fame, signaling a career rich in civic contributions.
Other key figures in the team bring in-depth knowledge of the local community, including Christie Angel, managing partner at Broadview Talent Partners, and Bishop Timothy Joseph Clarke, who founded an international fellowship that supports small and mid-size church pastors. Terry Green, CEO of Think Make Live Youth, and Chenelle A. Jones, public safety programs chair at Franklin University, are tasked with integrating youth-centric approaches into the new justice initiatives. Bringing a significant amount of police and community relations experience, Scott B. Clinger, a retired Columbus police officer, also joins the ranks.
Janica Pierce Tucker, partner-in-charge at Taft Law and a prominent figure in employment and labor law, along with Diane Menashe, a trial attorney with experience in high-profile defense cases, rounds out the expertise on the transition team. With a comprehensive team at her side, Prosecutor Favor hopes to realize her vision for an equitable and proactive Franklin County justice system. "I have invited my team members to bring their unique perspectives in hopes that we can create a justice system that has the power to both heal and uphold accountability," Favor told Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Shayla Favor's official website.
