Judge of Court of Appeals - 8th District - Full Term Commencing 2/12/2027
No. to be elected: 4-12 from 12 districts | Salary: $169,075 | Term: 6 yearsResponsibilities: Hears appeals from the Common Pleas, County, and Municipal Courts. Decisions made by a Court of Appeals judge are final, except in cases involving constitutional questions, felony cases, cases in which it has original jurisdiction, and cases of public or great general interest.
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Anita Laster Mays
(Dem)
List your judicial experience (courts and years).
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
Why are you running for this specific court seat?
What major challenges do courts face today? How would you address them?
What do you perceive as the greatest obstacle to justice, if any?
Training and Experience
I have been an attorney for over 33 years. I begin working as a private attorney handling criminal misdemeanor and felony cases, probate, family matters and civil cases. I became an assistant Cleveland prosecutor and deputy clerk in the Cleveland Municipal Court before being elected as judge of Cleveland Municipal Court in 2003 and the Court of Appeals, 8th District in 2014. I am currently serving in my 23rd year as judge.
Volunteer/Community Service
I consistently volunteer as a speaker for career days at area schools and I participate in Read Aloud to children. With my sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, I collect/donate items to the NICU, distribute school supplies to area schools, register voters
Cleveland Municipal Court 2004-2015
Ohio Court of Appeals, 8th District 2015-present
Upon graduating from law school and passing the Bar exam, I worked as a defense attorney. civil attorney, assistant Cleveland prosecutor. I learned all aspects of the law. I went into the Cleveland Clerk of Courts Office to understand the administrative workings of the court to give me a complete prospective of the court system.
I am running for the seat I currently hold at the court of appeals. I know that I can continue to serve this community with dignity and honor administrating justice in a fair and professional manner.
I believe a major challenge to courts is the issue of trust. Many people believe that the system is set up for them to fail. That is why I strive to educate as many people as possible on the importance of the law, the rule of law, and the hierarchy of the courts. I believe that if you understand the law, you can navigate it better or know where to find necessary answers. That is why I volunteer as a mentor, speak at schools and community events.
One of the greatest obstacles to justice is access to justice because of high legal costs including filing fees, lack of legal representation, delays in the use of interpreters or complex procedures.
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