Office: Akron Municipal Court
Age: 54
Residence: Akron, OH
Email: judgeannmarieobrien@gmail.com
Website:
Keepjudgeobrien.com
Twitter and FB @judgeannmarieobrien
Instagram judgeannmarieobrien
Occupation: Judge Akron Municipal Court
Education: J.D. 1991 The University of Akron School of Law; B.A. 1987, Hiram College, Major Political Science, Minors Biology and French
Work Experience: Akron Municipal Court Judge and Experienced and Accomplished Attorney with 27 years of experience including Plaintiff and Defense representation in Municipal, Common Pleas, Appellate and Federal Courts. Prior position Of Counsel, Emershaw, Mushkat & Schneirer handling indigent felony criminal representation and extensive civil practive as well as juvenile representation and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). Judicial Attorney for the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in which worked in a fast paced and high volume environment. As Judicial Attorney performed research and writing for efficient and timely progression of case’s on the court’s docket. Conducted pretrials as necessary and foreclosure mediations, as well as conference with counsel and resolved discovery disputes. During my 18 years with Davis & Young, of which the latter I was a shareholder, I handled complex medical, wrongful death and catastrophic litigation as well as premises liability, bodily injury, construction and mold related claims and motorist insurance coverage issues. I also handled a niche practice of equine law. Prior, I worked with Scanlon & Henretta and performed exclusive plaintiff representation with focus on medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, pharmaceutical litigation, and catastrophic accidents involving products claims, airplane and heavy trucks. I attended law school at night, so that I worked during the day to support myself through school. During this time, I worked at Scanlon, served as common pleas bailiff, and held a store customer service position at Firestone.
Family: Divorced with one daughter, two adopted dogs, Toby and Millie, three rescue cats, Lily, Mitty, and Molly, and gold fish that won’t stop growing.
Affiliations: Admitted to practice in the State of Ohio, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. 6th Cir. Court of Appeals, U.S District Courts, Northern and Southern Ohio. Co-Chair Summit County Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, Education/Outreach. Member of Ohio Association of Municipal Judges, National Association of Women Judges, International Association of Women Judges, Ohio State Bar Association and Certified Grievance Committee, Akron Bar Association, and Bencher Scanlon Inn of Court. Foundation Board Member of CHC Addiction Services. Member of Rotary and Usher at St. Sebastian Parish Church. Trained mediator with 12 Hours Basic Mediation and 40 Hours Specialized Divorce Mediation Training. Held “AV” Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell and Ohio Super Lawyer, 2012 to 2019 during law practice and recognized within top 1% of America’s Most Honored Professionals 2016 to 2019 during practice. Volunteer Judge Mock Trial Practice and Trial Competitions as well as volunteer for various civic organizations.
Endorsements: Bill Roemer, State Representative (38th Dist.), Former Summit County Sheriff Drew Alexander, Fairlawn Mayor Bill Roth, Akron Municipal Clerk of Courts Jim Laria
Bar Association Ratings: Rated “Excellent” by Akron Bar Association Commission on Judicial Candidates
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years):
I presently serve as Akron Municipal Court Judge since January 2019. I have previous Judicial Experience from 2017, as well as 27 years of litigation experience in Ohio municipal, common pleas, appellate and federal courts. I have also served as a Summit County Common Pleas Judicial Attorney in 2016, and courtroom bailiff while attending law school at night.
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
A Judge’s qualifications should be based upon Integrity, Legal Knowledge and Ability, Professional Experience, Judicial Temperament, Diligence, Personal Responsibility and Public/Community Service. As a 27 year attorney, my career has been devoted to complex civil litigation, juvenile representation, indigent felony representation, as well as various pro-bono services. I have demonstrated expansive legal knowledge and file handling from simple premises liability cases to death and construction claims. My successful navigation thru the myriad of discovery matters associated with cases clearly demonstrates tenacity, diligence and personal responsibility. In addition, I have served as an arbiter as well as mediator for parties in an effort to resolve their disputes, saving them time and money. I understand the principle of hard work, having put myself through law school while working fulltime. I did and continue to conduct myself with honesty and integrity. I enjoy a strong reputation with colleagues and the community. I presently serve on the Ohio State Bar Association Certified Grievance Committee, as well previously serving on the same for the Akron Bar Association, committees which review judicial and/or attorney misconduct. By mentoring students as well as young attorneys, my goal remains that they continually develop to their potential. By enhancing the skills of our young people, we are not only able to ensure the integrity of the law profession, but we serve to protect the public. I have and continue to interact with persons of all diversity, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds and religious beliefs. I adhere to the principle that all persons are entitled to individual respect. As every person’s circumstances are unique and individual, whether they be a plaintiff or defendant or victim, each require consideration. Judicial temperament include an individual’s compassion, decisiveness, open-mindedness, courtesy, patience, freedom from bias and commitment to equal justice under the law. All of my life experiences, professional, personal and civic, have taught me skills worthy of a Judge. (I would imagine that many readers can also appreciate the tenacity of a high schooler as applied to my current “patience” skills.) I believe I demonstrate an even demeanor on the bench and remain open-minded to creative resolution. I remain committed to equal access to justice and actively worked with the bar association to promote diversity. In summary, I consider my entire life to have been devoted to public service and seek to continue to serve you.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
As your Akron Municipal Judge, I am running to retain my seat. I bring the experience, knowledge and demeanor that is necessary and valued in a municipal court judge. Rated “Excellent” by the Akron Bar Association Commission on Judicial Candidates, and having served as its President, my over 27 years of legal experience is unmatched for this legal seat. My “Excellent” rating by my peers was based upon the seven evaluative categories I discussed above: Integrity, Legal Knowledge and Ability, Professional Experience, Judicial Temperament, Diligence, Personal Responsibility, and Public and Community Service. Access to justice, diversity concerns and rehabilitative sentencing remain priorities of mine. As Co-Chair of the Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, Education/Outreach, I educate the public on the realties of human trafficking. With these efforts, I am able to make a difference in people’s lives. I remain dedicated to ensuring that each person has equal access to justice. I have a solid reputation as an attorney and now a Judge and received a peer review rating of “AV Preeminent,” the highest rating available, prior to becoming a Judge. I effectively manage my docket, yet firmly dispense justice and protect our neighborhoods and communities. I work to protect vulnerable persons who are lured and trapped by economics, psychological, physical and/or sexual coercion or abuse, addiction and substance abuse, and threats against loved ones or actions taken against family pets. My over 27 years as a trial attorney has provided me with the distinct ability to experience first-hand the real world of court proceedings, having experienced those of many counties and court levels. I have represented civil plaintiffs and defendants, juvenile court parties, as well as indigent defendants in criminal felony matters. I volunteered my time to serve as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) to young children, who were confusedly navigating the foster system, an incredibly rewarding and emotionally touching experience. I continue to devote myself to community causes. I collaboratively work with my fellow judges to increase services and programming to those individuals that our Akron Municipal Court serves. Serving as your Akron Municipal Court Judge allows me to serve the people, while providing firm but fair consequences. I listen to everyone and seek to see all persons remain healthy and successfully complete their programming. I respectfully ask that you vote to retain the experience, and integrity of Judge Ann Marie O’Brien.