Boller Honored by Shelby County Bar Association

Assistant Prosecutor and local attorney Michael F. Boller was honored by the Shelby County Bar Association at its Annual Winter Banquet on February 10, 2005 with the Bar Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Attorneys with at least 30 years of practice who have demonstrated exemplary contributions to their communities and to the practice of law are eligible for consideration for the award.

Michael F. Boller was born March 29, 1939, in Sidney, Ohio, the son of Raymond E. Boller, a prominent local attorney, and Gladys Boller. Mike attended the Sidney City school system and graduated from Sidney High School in 1957. Following high school, Mike attended the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Economics and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from that institution in 1961. From 1961 to 1964, he attended the University of Cincinnati College of Law where he was awarded a Doctorate of Jurisprudence.

Following graduation, Mike served a tour of duty with the United States Army as a lieutenant in the 18th Airborne Corp stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He went with his unit to the Dominican Republic during the revolution in 1965 where he received the Army commendation medal and was promoted to the rank of Captain. Due to his military commitment, he was sworn into the Ohio State Bar while attending the Infantry Officers' course at Fort Benning, Georgia.

After completing his tour of duty, Mike went into practice with his father in late 1965. During his years of practice, Mike has handled civil and criminal matters in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Wisconsin, and Virginia.

In 1976, Mike was appointed the first Shelby County Public Defender. He served as County Public Defender until June, 1980. In June, 1980, he was hired as the Prosecutor for the Sidney Municipal Court. During the year 1980 Mike campaigned and was elected to the office of Shelby County Prosecutor. He took office as Shelby County Prosecutor in January, 1981, and served as the County Prosecutor until January, 1993. Since that time, he has served the public as an Assistant County Prosecutor.

While serving in a public capacity in the offices of Public Defender, City Prosecutor, Shelby County Prosecutor, and Assistant Shelby County Prosecutor, Mike has continued to maintain an active private practice. His law firm has evolved from Boller & Boller, to Boller & Shuffelton, to Boller & Stevenson, to Kerrigan, Boller & Stevenson, to Kerrigan, Boller, Stevenson & Goettemoeller, to its current association of Kerrigan, Boller, Stevenson, Goettemoeller & Beigel.

Professionally, Mike is or has been a member of the following professional organizations:

Shelby County Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
American Bar Association
National Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association
Greater Dayton Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association
Acting Judge -- Sidney Municipal Court
United States Government Appeal Agent for the Selective Service System
American Judicature Society
Ohio Public Defenders Association
Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association
National District Attorneys Association
Fraternal Order of Police
Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers
Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Admitted to practice law in:
All Ohio Courts; The United States District Court, Southern District; Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals; and the U.S. Tax Court

Mike has also served the Sidney/Shelby County community in the following community organizations:

Sidney Jaycee
Sidney Lions Club
Shelby County Young Republicans
Salvation Army
American Cancer Society
Loyal Order of Moose
American Legion
Sidney Rotary Club
St. Paul's United Church of Christ Council
Sidney Chamber of Commerce
Upper Valley JVS Advisory Board
Sidney YMCA
Sidney Electric Softball League
Shelby County Regional Planning
American Civil Liberties Union
Shelby County Juvenile Court Referee
Tri-County Community Action
NAACP (Recipient, Martin Luther King Award)
Lehman High School Mock Trial Coach

Mike is the senior partner in the law firm of Kerrigan, Boller, Stevenson, Goettemoeller & Beigel Co. L.P.A. He continues in the general practice of law with an emphasis in trial work, family law, estate planning and general business law.