Achieving Justice Series - Stacy Brooks

"Achieving Justice" is an interview series to educate individuals about Ohio's judicial system and the judges and candidates for judge who serve and wish to serve their state and community. This "Achieving Justice" interview is conducted by Judge Jennifer Brunner, currently a judge of Ohio's Tenth District Court of Appeals and candidate for Ohio Supreme Court. Judge Brunner is a candidate for the Ohio Supreme Court in 2020. In her thirteenth interview of this series, Judge Brunner interviews Attorney Stacy Brooks, judicial candidate for the Fourth District Court of Appeals in Ohio.

Stacy graduated from Xavier University in Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Science degree. She has a Masters Degree from the College of Charleston in South Carolina where she was a Graduate Fellow, and later received her law degree from Vermont Law School. During law school, Stacy taught legal writing as a Dean's Fellow, clerked at the Vermont Attorney General's office, and worked at the South Royalton Legal Clinic. Stacy received several awards during law school, including the Maximilian W. Kempner Award, which is given at commencement to the student who best exemplifies the highest standards of competence, integrity, respect, fair-mindedness and public service; and the Winona Ward Student Activist of the Year award given out by the Women's Law Group.

Stacy began her legal career as a staff attorney with Southeastern Ohio Legal Services, serving families, seniors, and others in need through direct litigation as well as community advocacy. The attorneys, paralegals, and support staff Stacy worked with are organized through the National Organization for Legal Service Workers (NOLSW-UAW Local 2320), and Stacy served as a shop steward for many years and then as President of the local chapter. In 2012, Stacy became a small business owner, opening her own practice in Chillicothe and in 2014 she joined the law firm Seif & McNamee, LLC with offices in Chillicothe and Waverly.

Stacy is a civil litigator with over 13 years of experience representing individuals, families, and businesses. She is certified by the Ohio Supreme Court as an Advanced Family Conflict Mediator, Guardian ad Litem, and Parenting Coordinator. Stacy is also the Solicitor for the Village of Beaver, and has represented the Village of Piketon and the City of Waverly in Mayor’s Courts. Stacy already serves many of the counties in the 4th District and has handled civil and criminal appeals to the 4th District Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio as well as the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

Stacy has also been an educator, teaching political science at Ohio University - Chillicothe Branch, and teaching leadership and ecology through Hocking College in Columbus and Andros Island, Bahamas.

Stacy solidified her passion for public service while at Xavier University, where her Jesuit education combined learning and service. After college, Stacy spent time as an intern with International Field Studies, a non-profit educational and cultural experience organization in Columbus and Andros Island, Bahamas. She served on a number of community and student volunteer groups while in Charleston and Vermont. Since returning to Ohio, Stacy has been an active member of a number of boards including the Ross County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Ross County Humane Society, the YMCA of Ross County, and the St. Mary Catholic Church Parish Council. Stacy has volunteered at the Ross County Legal Clinic and does pro bono work for non-profits. Stacy has also been a volunteer attorney mentor through the Ohio Supreme Court's Lawyer to Lawyer program.

Stacy and her family live in historic downtown Chillicothe, Ohio. Her husband, Luke Feeney, is the Mayor of Chillicothe. They have two children -- Colin who is four and Marin who will be two in August. Stacy met Luke while working with him at Southeastern Legal Services. They will celebrate their ten-year anniversary this summer. The family makes the most of the natural blessings in southern and southeastern Ohio -- hiking, running, and gardening are a few of Stacy’s hobbies.

Stacy is originally from West Carrollton, Ohio, near Dayton. Her father is retired from a career as a printing press manager and a Veteran. Her mother has been an office and sales manager and her step-father is an accountant.