September 18, 2025
Trial Courts in Ohio & Public Safety In Hamilton County, OH
Class Description
Recent instances of violent crime in Cincinnati have grabbed headlines across the country this summer as concerns have risen about public safety and perceived lawlessness in our community. Many are questioning the bail practices and criminal sentencing of Hamilton County judges as disturbing images are shared of mayhem on Cincinnati streets.
Judge Josh Berkowitz has served on the Hamilton County Municipal Court for the past ten years. He currently serves as the court’s Presiding & Administrative Judge. Attorney Scott O’Reilly is a prosecutor and private attorney with more than two decades of experience practicing in courts throughout the region. Together, they will share their unique insights and perspectives on the state of criminal justice in Hamilton County, current Ohio law, and the issues confronting the judiciary and the citizenry concerning public safety.
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Speaker Bio
Judge Josh Berkowitz has been serving as our judge on the Hamilton County Municipal Court since 2015. He currently serves as the court’s Presiding Judge, and he has earned a reputation as a judge who upholds the law, treats everyone fairly, and is committed to ensuring our safety.
A former felony prosecutor, Judge Berkowitz has a strong track record of holding dangerous criminals accountable and delivering justice for the victims of crime. Before taking the bench, Josh served as an Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor, aggressively prosecuting serious felony offenses including murder, sex crimes, drug trafficking, robberies, and burglaries. He also served as the elected Law Director for the City of Norwood. As the city’s chief legal officer, Josh provided legal advice and counsel to public officials and city departments.
Judge Berkowitz was born and raised in Cincinnati. He studied History at Ohio State University and earned a law degree at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Following the bar exam, Josh practiced criminal defense law and later joined the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office in Columbus. In 2008, Josh returned to Cincinnati and joined the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office.
Scott C. O’Reilly was born in Cincinnati in 1976 and grew up in Finneytown. Sports were a large part of his upbringing as he played soccer, basketball, and swimming through high school. A little-known fact was he also had the misguided privilege of serving as the president of the orchestra. He wished he could say that he excelled as a cellist, but says he was far from average, but certainly enjoyed the experience.
In college he attended Miami University where he studied Operations Management and History, ultimately receiving a bachelor’s degree in science and a bachelor’s degree in arts in 1998. He was a lifeguard throughout his undergraduate studies and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity. While in school, two friends of his were from his small high school were murdered in separate incidents almost a year apart. This was a turning point for him, as he had always anticipated heading into the business world in search of wealth. Instead, their deaths left him with a profound sense of anger and desire to pursue justice.
This led him to attend Salmon P. Chase College of Law graduating with his law degree in 2002. He had been clerking for a Common Pleas Judge in Clermont County, Ohio and quickly was hired by the Prosecutor there. He served as a Clermont County Prosecutor from 2002-2021. He was responsible for founding the Family Violence Task Force which ultimately became known as Little Fork. He was honored to receive numerous awards as a prosecutor including the 2017 William F. Schenck Victim Justice Visionary Award. He also received the Cancer Family Care Unsung Hero award in 2017 which has significant meaning as the mother of his children Emily O’Reilly died from Cholangiocarcinoma in January 2016.
In 2013 he formed a small group that consisted of a few detectives and himself with the intention of reviewing cases for prosecution. This quickly morphed into a review for not only potential criminal intervention but wrap around services for families affected by sexual and physical violence. This culminated in the creation of the Little Fork Family Advocacy Center, which was formed in 2019, and opened its doors in August 2023. He currently holds the title of Executive Director of the center. In addition, he teachs Business Law at the University of Cincinnati, is a part time prosecutor for Brown County, and of-counsel at the Law Firm of Engel & Martin located in Mason, Ohio.
As a devoted parent of three children, Gabby (12), Grace (12) & Henry (14), he now shares his life with his partner, Lisa.