020711 The long and winding road to the Prosecutors Office
By Sharon Haught
January 31, 2011
338
Most law school students dream of the day when theyll be pleading their clients case before a jury.
But Wayne Countys new Prosecuting Attorney Dan Lutz had a very different dream.
When I decided to go to law school I didnt want to become a lawyer, said Lutz. Ever since I can remember I wanted to be an FBI agent.
While attending college Lutz contacted the FBI seeking advice on selecting the right major to make him an attractive candidate to the agency.
Their response? Go to law school.
After earning a history degree from Allegheny College in 1984, Lutz headed to the Ohio State University College of Law.
When he encountered a fellow classmate who planned to enlist in the Marine Corps after graduation, Lutz began giving serious consideration to joining the military.
That would give me a chance to experience practicing law a little bit before committing to the FBI as an agent. And being in the military couldnt hurt getting into the FBI, said Lutz.
When Lutz graduated from OSU he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served four years of active duty in Newport, Rhode Island.
Though Lutz went into law school believing that if he was going to be a lawyer he certainly wasnt going to be a trial lawyer, the Navy had other plans.
On active duty they throw you right in the courtroom as defense counsel, said Lutz adding that he later served as a prosecutor, general practitioner and Federal Tort Claims lawyer.
During his last year on active duty Lutz started the lengthy and rigorous application process for the FBI.
I got off active duty and the FBIs telling me everything is great, just hang tight, be patient. Two months go by and then I get a letter that said due to budgetary constraints we have a hiring freeze for the indefinite future. They werent hiring any agents, said Lutz.
As he waited for the freeze to lift Lutz accepted what he expected to be an interim position with the Wayne County Public Defenders Office.
Two and a half years later he was still there.
At that point Lutz decided to make a move to the Prosecutors Office.
My first day on the job at the Prosecutors Office I go home and open up a letter from the FBI that says were hiring again but you have to go through everything all over again, said Lutz.
Lutz took stock of his options. He was facing another year of tests, exams and interviews, he had a new baby in the house and hed just made a commitment to then Prosecutor Keith Shearer.
He ultimately decided not to re-apply.
Lutz eventually entered private practice with the Orrville firm of Kropf, Wagner, Lutz and VanSickle. He also served as Orrvilles city law director for 15 years and as an Acting Municipal Court Judge in the mid-2000s.
Lutz also continued his military service as part of the Reserves first as a staff judge advocate and more recently as an appellate judge on the Navy Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.
Ill keep doing this as long as the time doesnt interfere with this job, said Lutz of his service in the Reserves.
Ive always believed things work out the way they are supposed to and Im happy Im here, said Lutz of the long and winding road that lead him to the Prosecutors Office.
In a way Lutz career aspirations have come full circle
Im considered a law enforcement officer under the Ohio Revised Code. So I didnt become an FBI agent but this is even better, said Lutz adding everything happens the way it should in my opinion.
