In the courts of Ohio, a narrative of legal lineage progresses as Judge Robert Hendrickson takes a seat, much like his father before him, on the Twelfth District Court of Appeals. Having recently sat for oral arguments in the significant case of Huntington National Bank v. Schneider, as reported by Court News Ohio, Judge Hendrickson acted as a substitute on the Ohio Supreme Court due to Justice Patrick F. Fischer's recusal. This case delves into the financial liabilities of a business partner post-company default on a commercial loan.
Under the shadow of his father, retired Judge William Hendrickson, Judge Hendrickson not only followed in his paternal footprints career-wise but also geographically, having been born in Middletown and pursuing education and career stages reflecting his father's history. He replaced the judge who filled his father’s vacancy with an experience package that included criminal law, probate, and domestic relations—"It was the main thing that I observed with my father," Judge Hendrickson told Court News Ohio, referencing his father's notable work ethic.
Having attended the University of Cincinnati for business administration and later on obtaining his juris doctorate from Capital University in 1984, the legal gene seems inherent in the Hendrickson DNA. Beginning his career in the same office where his father practiced, Judge Hendrickson later took on the role of judge for Butler County Area III Court in 1997.
Although managing a demanding schedule, on and off the bench, Judge Hendrickson focuses on the humanistic side of law, taking pride in assisting with children and family-related legal matters. Inspiring a man who, nearly 30 years prior was a child impacted by Hendrickson's assistance in an adoption case, asked him to officiate his upcoming wedding as reported by Court News Ohio. Off the bench, his service extends to community and international efforts, like the installation of solar panels during a Honduras mission trip, proving his dedication transcends the courtroom.
Today, life brings Hendrickson back to his roots, tending to his elderly parents. At 98 and 96 years old, his father and mother are receiving care from the son whose career their own lives had so deeply influenced, embodying a reciprocal nature of service and familial commitment.
