Hon. Robert D. Nichols (Ret.) was a judge for the Madison County Court of Common Pleas (General and Domestic Relations Division) in Ohio. He joined the bench in 1975. Nichols retired on October 31, 2013.
His judicial career spanned forty-three years and included a stint on the Madison County Court bench (1970 to 1975).
Nichols received a B.A. from Mount Union College. He went on to complete a J.D. at the Ohio State University, Michael E. Moritz College of Law. Nichols was admitted to practice in Ohio in 1967.
While on the bench, he opposed new laws that stifled sentencing options for judges and supported the idea of judges being elected to the bench instead of receiving an appointment to the office. In addition, Nichols deemed treatment-based sentencing as another factor that put limitations on a judge's sentencing options and felt that the approach was not solving current drug-related issues in the community.
He and his wife, Sue, have two grown children. After retiring from the bench, Nichols hoped to spend more time with his grandchildren.
He was registered as a Republican.