VOTE411 Voter Guide

Since 1994 I have been serving the residents of Summit County in a variety of ways. As a legal intern with the City of Akron Law Department and as an Assistant Summit County Prosecutor I prosecuted thousands of traffic and criminal cases. During my tenure with the Prosecutor's Office, I handled felony cases ranging from low level drug offenses up to and including death penalty cases. I tried well over 50 criminal trials including high-profile cases where I gained valuable courtroom and trial experience. One of the most high-profile cases I prosecuted was the Joy Park Rapists who committed violent stranger rapes throughout the Joy Park Community. As Legal Counsel/Executive Director for the Summit County Sheriff's Office, I broadened my administrative and personnel skills and civil law experience. As elected Barberton Court Clerk I handled many legal issues regarding the thousands of cases filed in the Court while managing an office of 10 employees.

I am seeking re-election to my third term as Judge of the Summit County Common Pleas Court, General Division, because of my great passion and respect for the law. My career and life experiences have given me a well-developed sense of justice and fairness. I believe this, combined with my ability to create an atmosphere of respect and dignity for the people coming before the court, serve the citizens of Summit County well. During the last 12.5 years I have presided over approximately 15,000 criminal and civil cases and 100 trials. My strong record of professional excellence, professional accomplishments and broad legal and life experiences uniquely qualifies me to serve as Judge of the Common Pleas Court. I would be honored to continue to serve my community in this capacity.

Two of the major challenges courts face are public safety and chemical dependency and/or mental illness. Public Safety is of the utmost importance when Courts sentence felony offenders. Before any sentencing, the Court must conduct an analysis considering factors such as the seriousness of the offense, prior criminal history, injuries to the victim, genuine remorse shown by the offender along with many other factors. The outcome of such analysis dictates the sentence necessary to protect our community, which may include incarceration or rehabilitation. Numerous crimes can be attributed to chemical dependency or mental health issues. In order to address the crime, it is imperative to analyze the individual offender to determine whether an underlying issue exists and whether treatment is appropriate. If treatment is deemed appropriate, proper treatment increases the likelihood of success, reduces recidivism rates, and ultimately keeps our community safe.

Accessibility to the courts and the quality of the administration of justice may be some of the greatest obstacles to justice. Courts can provide meaningful access to justice by offering services including treatment for those with chemical dependency or mental health issues, experienced court-appointed attorneys for those who cannot afford to hire their own counsel, mediation, necessary forms on-line, implementation of user-friendly technology including on-line filings and video appearances where appropriate just to name a few. The quality of the administration of justice is imperative to our system of justice. Judges must exemplify the law by having respect for and upholding the law, being fair and impartial, maintaining order, being patient, dignified and courteous. A judge is so intricately involved in guiding the tone of any legal matter, possessing these qualities is essential to uphold and promote the independence, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.

I'm currently the Chief Assistant Prosecutor in the civil division of the Summit County Prosecutor's Office. I serve as legal advisor to local judges and have represented many of our county agencies in our state and federal courts. I've trained local officials on Ohio's Sunshine Laws. I have served as an Administrative Hearing Officer for the Summit County Child Enforcement Agency.

My diverse background in civil and criminal law with over three decades of courtroom experience provides me with the strong foundation to serve as a Common Pleas General Division Judge. I believe that everyone who enters a courtroom deserves to be treated with dignity, impartiality, and equal justice under the law and if I'm elected, I'll put those principles to work for all who enter the courtroom.

I believe respect for the law and its decision makers are challenges facing our judiciary. I would like to see more access to the courts via new media. Court proceedings could be streamed over the internet as it's been my experience the more the public has easy access to public proceedings the more engaged and trustworthy of the process they become.

I believe the cost of litigation and the long- time frames it takes to complete many cases creates disappointment and distrust of the judicial system.