Judge Jennifer McElfresh was appointed to the Butler County Common Pleas Court in October of 2013. She was elected to her first full term in 2014. Judge McElfresh handles criminal felony and civil cases. In addition to her regular docket, Judge McElfresh presides over the Felony Non-Support Court. The Felony Non-Support Court is a specialized docket which strives to enhance the public safety by preventing recidivism while assisting felony non-support offenders in taking responsibility for their behavioral issues and in paying their court ordered child support. In 2016, Judge McElfresh was elected by her fellow judges to serve as Administrative Judge, a role which she held for more than two years. As Administrative Judge, Judge McElfresh was responsible for submitting the Court’s budget, managing the Court’s personnel, and developing the Court’s policies.

Judge McElfresh holds both a Bachelor of the Arts and Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati. Prior to taking the bench, she served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office for fifteen years. In addition to representing county agencies as an Assistant Prosecutor, Judge McElfresh prosecuted juvenile delinquency cases as well as adult misdemeanor and felony cases. For thirteen years, Judge McElfresh prosecuted child homicide, physical abuse, and sexual abuse cases. In 2011, she became the Division Chief of the Child Assault Division of the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office. Judge McElfresh received a Meritorious Service Award from the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association in 2012.

Judge McElfresh is a member of the Ohio Justice Alliance for Community Corrections, the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association, the Butler County Bar Association, and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #38. She serves on the Ohio Judicial Conference’s Public Confidence and Community Outreach Committee, Criminal Law and Procedure Committee, and Judicial Ethics, Professionalism, and Diversity Committee as well as the Butler County Criminal Justice Advisory Board and the Butler County Bar Association’s Criminal Law Committee, Bar Applications Committee, Bar Foundation Committee, Continuing Legal Education Committee, and Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee. She is the Chairperson of the Butler County Bar Association’s Notary Committee and serves on the Ohio Notary Advisory Board.

In 2019, Judge McElfresh was appointed by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’ Connor to the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission. As a member of the Commission, Judge McElfresh serves on the House Bill 1 Implementation Workgroup. The Workgroup is charged with studying the impact of this new legislation and reporting its findings to the Governor.

Judge McElfresh resides with her family in Fairfield, Ohio. She has previously served on the Fairfield Planning Commission, Fairfield Parks and Recreation Board, and Fairfield Civil Service Commission. She is an active member of Sacred Heart Church and currently serves on the Miami Valley Health Services Board and the Bunker Hill Haven for Boys Board. She is a member of the Lindenwald Kiwanis of Hamilton/Fairfield and a regular volunteer at the Animal Adoption Foundation.