Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Ryan Styer appointed judge
NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio (WJER) (Feb. 5, 2026) — Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Ryan Styer is preparing to switch sides of the bench.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Wednesday that Styer has been appointed to the Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court. He will fill the seat vacated by Judge Elizabeth Thomakos, who retired at the end of last week.
He will serve the remainder of the unfinished term and must run for election this November to retain the seat.
Styer is scheduled to officially begin his new role on March 2. In the meantime, retired Judge Edward O’Farrell will serve as interim judge until Styer takes office.
Styer has served as Tuscarawas County Prosecutor since 2009. Before holding that position, he worked as an assistant public defender in Carroll County and as the Newcomerstown village solicitor.
We expect to hear more from Styer as he discusses his transition to the bench and what the change means for the Tuscarawas County Prosecutor’s Office.