CINCINNATI — Former Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ralph Winkler has passed away.
Winkler, a University of Cincinnati and NKU Salmon P. Chase College of Law graduate, was also appointed to the Ohio First District Court of Appeals in 1998.
In his 22 years on the bench, Winkler presided over hundreds of important cases in Cincinnati, including the trial of serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin.
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Prior to becoming a lawyer, Winkler was a federal agent for 10 years and served as first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.
The lifelong Cincinnati resident retired as judge in 2004. His son, Ralph "Ted" Winkler, is now a Hamilton County Probate Court judge.
The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office confirmed Winkler's passing to WCPO on Thursday.
WCPO will update this story with memorial arrangements.
