Meet Jim Irmen

Jim Irmen has called this area "home" for over 34 years.  Although he was born in Toledo, Jim moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan with his family when he was very young.  In 1977, he returned to attend college at the University of Toledo and has been here ever since.

Jim is the oldest of seven children.  Four of his siblings remain in Michigan, while one brother lives in Toledo and a sister is in Cleveland. The Irmen name is well known in Lucas County, as the family has been active in many charitable, civic and community activities benefiting the greater Toledo area.

In 1981, Jim graduated from the University of Toledo College of Business, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with honors as finance major.  He continued his education at the UT College of Law, and graduated there, too, with honors, second in his class.  As an undergraduate and graduate student, Jim not only excelled academically, he was very active in extracurricular activities.  He was elected as a student senator and was chosen to serve in the cabinet of the President of Student Government.  Later,  he was appointed to serve as an Associate Justice on the Student Judiciary Council.  Jim competed in intra-mural athletics, and he was selected to the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity in recognition of his scholarship and service to the University.  Only 13 students at UT can be members of Blue Key at any given time, and Jim was honored to be a member his last two years at UT.  He. was vice president of his college social fraternity and served in a variety of other leadership roles there.  In 1981 Jim was honored as Man of the Year among the Greek letter organizations at the University.

Early in life, Jim established a strong work ethic, and it has served him well.  He paid all of his college expenses through a combination of academic scholarships and working nights at UPS.  He worked his way through law school by clerking for the Honorable Robert Franklin in the Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Following graduation from law school, Jim went to work for the firm of Manahan, Pietrykowski & Bamman where he cut his teeth as a trial lawyer, doing primarily auto accident and product liability defense work.  In 1987, Jim joined the firm of Marshall & Melhorn, LLC where he is now a partner.

Jim has tried cases in state and federal courts involving a variety of disputes.  He was counsel for Sandusky County in a landmark case settling issues of municipal sovereign immunity, and Jim  has tried cases involving alleged police brutality, wrongful death, commercial construction disputes, business breakups, fire losses, and trucking accidents.  Jim has argued cases before several appellate courts in Ohio, including the Ohio Supreme Court. 

Jim is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Ohio.  He is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court of Michigan, Eastern Division, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C.  Jim has been a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Toledo Bar Association for over 20 years.  He has served in many leadership roles in the bar association, including service as chairman of the Federal Court Committee, Common Pleas Court Committee and the Court of Appeals Committee.  Jim served for 3 years on the Board of Trustees and is past President of the Toledo Bar Association in 2007-2008.  Jim belongs to other professional associations, including the Defense Research Institute and the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys.  He has lectured and written for several Continuing Legal Education seminars.

Jim has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution and mediation.  In his 26+ years of practice, Jim has represented hundreds of clients and helped them solve personal and business challenges.  His pragmatic approach to problem-solving has made him sought after as an attorney and counselor at law.  He is an excellent communicator who understands the vital importance of listening.  Jim truly believes that "God created us with two ears and just one mouth for a reason".

Jim came to Swanton Township with his wife, Cindy (neé Burkey).  She was born and raised in the Swanton area, and convinced Jim that it was a great place to live.  They have both been very active in Swanton Township, and collaborated on the creation of the township's (original) website.

Jim has served on the Township's Board of Zoning Appeals and the Township Zoning Commission, and he worked with the Zoning Commission to update the Township Land Use Plan. Jim was involved in the drafting of the land use survey sent to all township residents in 2004. In November 2005, he was elected to his first term as Township Trustee.  He has provided counsel and advice to the Township Trustees concerning the creation of an Employee Handbook and compliance with management recommendations by the Auditor of State. Jim has been called on at Trustee Meetings to offer legal input concerning complex issues of local government. He was elected by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Trustees in 2009. 

Jim expanded his knowledge of local government by attending the 2005 Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy and the Ohio Township Association 2005 Summer Convention and 2006 Winter Conference, as well as the OTA 2006 Summer and 2007 Winter Conferences.  He is Swanton Township's appointed Board Member to the Lucas County Improvement Corporation and serves on the organizing committee of the Lucas County Township Association.

Jim's service to our community goes beyond bar association and local government.  He is an Elder in his church, where he provides strong leadership on the church board.  He is also active in the music ministry of his church.  Jim is a member of the Gideons (Toledo South Camp).  With his wife Cindy, he was part of a gospel quartet that regularly played in nursing homes all over Northwest Ohio for over eight years.  Most recently, he became a member of the Board at the Cherry Street Mission and currently serves as Secretary to that organization.  Each Spring, Jim brings the Youth Group from his church to pick up roadside trash on roads in the township.  Each year that he has been a trustee, Jim has used his personal time and money to spruce up the Township Hall for the holidays.

For three years Jim was co-chairman of the Annual Campaign for Advocates for Basic Legal Equality.  Under his leadership, over $200,000 was raised in the legal community for legal services for the poor.  Not only does Jim give of his treasure to the poor, but also directly of his time and talent.  He has been active in Habitat for Humanity, and in the fall of 2004, Jim was awarded the Martin-Willinger Award for Outstanding Support of the Pro Bono Legal Services Program.

He brings Experience and Integrity to Swanton Township. 

James H. Irmen - 12775 Shaffer Rd - Swanton, OH  43558

Copyright © 2005-2010  All rights reserved.

Paid for by Irmen4Trustee Campaign - C. Irmen, Treasurer
Revised: 06/28/11.