A longtime leader in the legal world, Gregory Frost can now add another leadership role to his impressive résumé. In August 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Frost to a prestigious seat on the U.S. District Court in Columbus, Ohio.

“The interview at the White House alone has been a highlight of my life,” said Frost, whose application for consideration by President Bush totaled 1,500 pages.

A former municipal court and common pleas judge in Licking County, Ohio, for more than 20 years prior to his appointment, Frost has found his new position in Ohio’s capital city to be both exciting and challenging.

“There are a lot of differences between state law and federal law, I’ve learned,” he said. “It’s been quite a transition.”

Despite the need to understand an entirely new set of statutes, Frost has never regretted his decision to stop practicing law to pursue a judgeship. “I feel I have been able to impact people in a positive way,” he explained.

That desire to make a difference stems in part from Frost’s days on campus. A political science major, Frost entered Wittenberg with a strong interest in law, which courses such as Opinion Polling and Comparison of World Politics further fueled. The late Melvin Latch, professor emeritus of political science, whom Frost considers a mentor, also significantly influenced him.

“He was a very intelligent, old-school professor and a southern gentleman,” Frost said. “From him I learned not so much from the books but how to conduct yourself as a person in society.”

Although extremely busy these days with his new duties, Frost still manages to keep his priorities in check. Amidst the trials, appeals, sentencing and Senate confirmation hearings, Frost continues to place his wife and three sons first. He also still finds the field of law fascinating.

“There’s a new problem everyday — a brand new problem to try to solve.”

— Karen Alzner ’04