Appointment of Janica Pierce Tucker

Posted on 1/26/2021

Defendant:

This morning a resolution was passed by the Commissioners supporting Franklin County Prosecutor Tyack’s appointment of Janica Pierce Tucker as Special Assistant Prosecutor to serve as Chief Counsel for the Franklin County Parks and Recreation Board, the Parks Board’s non-profit corporations, Franklin County Stadium Inc., and the Columbus Clippers. Ms. Pierce Tucker, the partner-in-charge at the Taft Columbus office, has an impressive resume and is an experienced litigator. Ms. Pierce Tucker received her law degree from Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee. Her practice areas include, but are not limited to, employment law, wage and hour law, education – litigation, class action employment claims, commercial litigation, labor relations, public law, and labor and employment litigation.

Ms. Pierce Tucker is quite active in the community, having been recognized by her peers on numerous occasions. She is a 2018 fellow for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and is listed in Ohio Super Lawyers for employment and labor law. She is also a member of Taft’s Executive Committee and serves as co-chair of Taft’s firm-wide Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Ms. Pierce-Tucker is a member of the Columbus Bar Association, the John Mercer Langston Bar Association, and the Ohio State Bar Association. She is also the past president of Women Lawyers of Franklin County, and served as a Commissioner on the Board of Grievances for the Ohio Supreme Court. Ms. Pierce Tucker presently serves as Chair of Legal Aid of Central Ohio.

“Prosecutor Tyack tasked me with finding the most qualified person to succeed Mr. Ray in this highly coveted position. After a thorough search, we found Janica to be the most qualified candidate for the appointment,” stated Jeanine Hummer, First Assistant and Chief Counsel over the Civil Division in the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office. Prosecutor Tyack went on to add, “I have no doubt Ms. Pierce Tucker is going to excel in this role. She was without question the most qualified person, and we are fortunate to have her in this position.”

In addition to Ms. Pierce Tucker’s credentials and accolades, this is an historic moment. Ms. Pierce Tucker is the first African-American woman to serve as top legal counsel for any Triple-A professional baseball organization in the modern history of Triple-A professional baseball. “I am honored and I look forward to serving my community in this role,” stated Ms. Pierce Tucker of her appointment.

The Commissioners and Prosecutor Tyack also thanked Frank Ray, the exiting Special
Counsel for the Columbus Clippers and designer of the existing model for the Clippers’
ownership and operating structure. Mr. Ray served in this role for 44 years and has advanced the
Clippers’ operating structure in significant ways. The model developed by Mr. Ray is unique
from other models across the country in that the Clippers are owned and operated by a non-profit
Ohio corporation affiliated with the Franklin County government.

Having been jovially called a “retirement flunky”, Mr. Ray has enjoyed an extensive
career in law, with specific skills in complex litigation. Having started his law career in the
Franklin County Prosecutor’s office, he went on to serve a one-year appointment as Director of
the Economic Crime Project of the National District Attorneys Association, which was funded
and administered by the Department of Justice. He returned to Franklin County in 1976, at which
point he conceptualized the operational model for the Clippers.

Mr. Ray has been in private practice since 1979. He practiced for five years with Michael
F. Colley Co., L.P.A., and then operated his own firm for 23 years - Frank A. Ray Co., L.P.A. He
merged his firm and practice in 2006 with Chester, Willcox & Saxbe, LLP, and then in April 2011,
he withdrew from his partnership in the Chester firm and he re-established Frank A. Ray Co.,
L.P.A. He has been operating as a solo practitioner since 2011.

Prosecutor Tyack is grateful for Mr. Ray’s dedication to his role over the years and is
looking forward to the innovative ideas and excellence in service Ms. Pierce Tucker will bring to
this important appointment. “I’m grateful Janica was willing to serve in this appointment and I’m
looking forward to us all rolling up our sleeves.”