THE JUDGE

 

Judge Thomas W Janas (Republican) was the Lorain County Common Pleas Judge assigned to the original trial. In 1980, Lorain County Prosecutor, Greg White, appointed

Janas Chief Assistant County Prosecutor in charge of juvenile/domestic relations

division. He served in that role for the next 13 years.

 

Freddie’s trial judge was thus the prosecutor in charge of the juvenile division during the period Freddie was prosecuted as a juvenile. In 1993, Janas was appointed Common Pleas Judge when another judge fell ill. He held the position for 13 years, losing his re‐election campaign in 2006.

 

Janas had been a judge for less than 2 years at the time he presided over the capital trial

of  Freddie McNeill. In 2009, Janas lodged an application to be a United States magistrate judge.

 

To the question  ‘name three references familiar with your abilities’, Janas listed his first reference as Greg White. To the question ‘name three references familiar with your personal character’,  he listed his first reference as Greg White. He had thus remained

good friends with the former County Prosecutor well after leaving office [and thus presumably during the trial of Freddie McNeill].