Office: Hamilton County – Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Age: 59
Residence: Loveland, OH
Email: lisa.allen.453@gmail.com
Website: Facebook, Judge Lisa Allen; http://Lisaallenforjudge.com/
Occupation: Common Pleas Judge
Education: B.A. Ohio Northern University 1980, J.D. Ohio Northern
Claude Pettit College Of Law 1983
Work Experience: City of Cincinnati Assistant Prosecuting Attorney,
Hamilton County Municipal Court Magistrate, Hamilton County
Municipal Court Judge
Family: Married with two children
Affiliations: Ohio State Bar Association, Cincinnati Bar Association,
Ohio Judicial Conference
Endorsements: N/A
Bar Association Ratings: N/A
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years):
I was a Hamilton County Municipal Court Magistrate from 2000-2003.
From 2003-2016 I was a Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge. In
2016 I was elected for an unexpired term to the Hamilton County
Common Pleas Court where I serve today.
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a
judge?
During my time as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, I noticed a large
percentage of criminal offenders were suffering from addiction, mental
illness or a combination of the two. It became apparent to me that if
those offenders whose criminal offenses stemmed from mental
illness/addiction were to receive treatment, that the recidivism rate for
this population would drop. Incarcerating the mentally ill offender
means that their criminal conduct would only be interrupted rather
than stopped. Incarceration is expensive and totally ineffective in
curtailing the criminal conduct of the addicted/mentally ill offender. A
few years after assuming the bench in Municipal Court, I agreed to
preside over a Mental Health Docket once a week. Through an alliance
with mental health providers, special probation officers and our Court
Clinic we dealt with eligible non-violent offenders with a “team”
approach. The object of Mental Health Court is simple, connect
mentally ill offenders with treatment and you will reduce recidivism.
I’m happy to say this approach has proven to be very successful.
I am currently presiding over one of two Mental Health Dockets in the
Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. Every Thursday, just as I did in
Municipal Court, I meet with a team of mental health professionals as
well as the probation officer assigned to Mental Health Court. We
discuss each offender’s progress and discuss the best way to manage
their recovery. Following our meeting, we have court. As each case is
called, I enter into a discussion with each of the defendants. The
majority of felony mental health court participants also have a coexisting
substance abuse disorder. Therefore, in addition to treating the
mental illness, we must also treat the substance abuse disorder.
Because the team approach means that each treatment provider is up
to speed with what is going on with an offender, we have successful
results.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I have been proud to have served the citizens of Hamilton County for
the last 15 years as a Judge first on the Municipal Court bench and now
as a Common Pleas Judge. I like the work and the challenge of
fashioning appropriate sentences for criminal offenders, and the
challenge of determining appropriate decisions in civil matters. It’s
important in this day and age that we have Judges who are experienced
in determining alternative sentences for non-violent offenders. It’s
important to fashion sentences that both protect the public, and reduce
the likelihood of re-offending. It is also important to know when a
prison sentence is in order.
After 34 years of being first a trial lawyer and then Judge, I have
developed skills that help me in determining when prison is required or
when probation should be granted. I also know how important it is to
give victims of crime a voice in sentencing. Judges must ensure that
victims know that they are being heard and that their wishes and fears
are being addressed by the Court. My extensive experience as both a
litigator and trial Judge has impressed upon me the importance of
listening to all sides of an argument before making a decision. I strive to
do that every day that I take the bench. It is important that the parties
to a law suit, and the parties in a criminal prosecution know that the
Judge deciding their case takes the job seriously with an eye toward
fairness and justice within the law.