Author: ctaylor1

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Over 15 years as a trial attorney; having litigated no less than 200,000 cases statewide, as well as Appellate Court appearances, and briefs submitted with the Ohio Supreme Court.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I’ve worked extensively with litigants that have been both represented by counsel or appeared on their own behalf. My extensive experience dealing with unrepresented litigants gives me the temperament necessary to impart respect in my courtroom. All individuals before me will understand that no one person’s voice is more important than their opponent, and all those who stand in my courtroom will have their voice heard.

In addition, having been in private practice for nearly 16 years, and understand what it takes to carry a very heavy caseload, and seeing it through to completion while maintaining my professional, managing and overseeing my client’s goals, and preserving the respect and deference our profession instills within the community.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
It is my lifelong goal to serve the public and I cannot think of a better way to do that than through my profession as a member of the judiciary. When this opportunity to run for this position was presented I knew I could not pass it up. I will bring a fresh perspective to the Bench, and do everything I can do to promote confidence in our judicial branch of government. I am family oriented, tough, and trustworthy. I am committed to seeing our community thrive.

COMMUNITY. COMMITMENT. CASSONE.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I have been with the Fairfield County Juvenile Probate Court for 8 years.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I focused on family safety matters by developing the Fairfield County DV protocol. I was awarded the Ohio Victims of Crime Public Policy Leadership Award for my work on focusing on the safety of families. I have also focused on mental health collaboration and was awarded the ADMH community Award for developing partnerships for treatment of those in need of emergent mental health crisis care.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I love my community and being in the service of families of Fairfield County.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I was appointed the judge of the Ottawa County Municipal Court in February of 1991 and remained judge of the Ottawa County Municipal Court through December of 2019 after choosing not to seek another term.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I bring over 20+ years of judicial experience from my time as a Municipal Court Judge. Previous to that, I was in the private practice of law. While I engaged in the general practice of law, within my private practice, my emphasis was on probate, real estate and juvenile law.

As an attorney, I represented clients seated in the courtroom and who would be directly affected by the court’s decisions. As a judge, I had people before me experiencing their darkest moments. I know what is like to be on both sides of the bench. As an attorney and as a judge, it was and is necessary to acknowledge the struggles of those people appearing in court with compassionate accountability. Probate and Juvenile court judges hear a variety of complex cases, from those involving elder abuse to ones involving the rights of children.

I believe my previous experiences as both a judge and a practicing attorney will help guide this court to make correct decisions with deliberate speed which will in turn be of benefit to the individuals and families who come before this court.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I made the decision to run after learning of Judge Kathleen Geisler’s retirement from the position of Probate/Juvenile Court Judge. I believe my 20+ years of judicial experience allows me to step in and run a fair and effective court on day one. Justice delayed is justice denied.

No different than in the Municipal Court, I believe my philosophy of compassionate accountability is the right approach for the Ottawa County residents who come before this court. If elected Probate/Juvenile Court Judge, my focus will be on family preservation and enhancing current programs that will put our youth on track for a future of success as well as ensuring that the elderly in our community are respected and protected. The decisions this court makes can affect families for generations; it is important to get it right. This is not the court to learn how to become a judge. That is why I believe my experience is the right choice for this very important position of Probate/Juvenile Court Judge.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I am the Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court Judge, serving since 2014, first appointed and then elected. All of my judicial experience has been exclusively in Hamilton County, both Domestic Relations Court and Municipal Court.

Prior to being a judge, I served as a Municipal Court Magistrate for six years, 2003-2009. My years in Municipal Court gave me a foundation which has assisted me in Domestic Relations Court, in that Municipal Court provided a broader perspective on domestic violence cases in my court. In Municipal Court, as Magistrate, I presided over domestic violence hearings; now as Domestic Relations judge, I am the one responsible for issuing domestic violence orders. This “full circle” exposure has given me a unique perspective making me uniquely qualified.

Working as Domestic Relations judge for the past six years I have been responsible for almost 15,000 cases. My current active caseload consists of 500 divorce; dissolution; child custody and support cases for Hamilton County families. Since 2014 I have consistently been a fair, calm, professional judge, treating every person who enters the courtroom with dignity and respect. I listen carefully, giving attorneys and their clients the time they need to present their position. I also professionally and respectfully interact with grandparents, guardians, parenting investigators and child therapists. I often say, “The loudest voice in the room is not the most respected voice.” I treat all who enter with respect and dignity, and I always will.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I am a lifelong resident of Hamilton County and have dedicated my career to Hamilton County families. My roots in Hamilton County include seven siblings who graduated from Wm. Henry Harrison High School in Harrison. I graduated from Xavier University in 1985 with my degree in political science with a peace studies minor within the University Scholars Program. I then graduated from Chase College of Law in 1990. I was employed for eleven years in the Hamilton County Public Defenders Office, six years in Municipal Court as a Magistrate, and six years as Deputy Director/Director of Hamilton County Board of Elections. I treasure my years at the Board of Elections, assisting voters, community and advocacy groups, poll workers and elected officials. I will always be dedicated to open, fair and honest elections. My experience in the public defenders office, Municipal Court and the Board of Elections prepared me well for my current position as Domestic Relations Judge. Interacting with people who are in their most vulnerable situations in life helped mold me into a compassionate, patient and calm leader in the courtroom.

As a judge I see my responsibility to protect Ohio law and the legal rules of proper process and procedure. I also see myself as a role model, displaying patience and kindness towards others. A judge’s ego should never be on display in the courtroom. As the judge it is my responsibility to establish that tone and mood. When families walk into my courtroom they are greeted with an environment encouraging everyone to maintain a tone and mood appropriate for family court. Marriages, children, family finances and a “family plan” for the future are the concerns and focus in family court. There is no room here for inflated egos or bravado.

My non-judicial work experience has well prepared me to maintain a respectful and productive courtroom atmosphere. Perhaps the most impactful non-judicial experience I have experienced that has impacted my job as a judge is my life experience itself. I am a wife, mother and loving grandmother. I have been divorced myself, making me empathetic and understanding of the pain and difficulties facing the families in my courtroom. When I witness sadness in the children of the divorced families I feel their sadness from the perspective of a mother and grandmother. My humanity has made me the judge I am today.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running for re-election as Domestic Relations Judge because every day I see families healing as a result of the changes I have made to the environment in the courtroom. My courtroom is now more calm and temperate since we removed the attorneys’ tables and replaced them with a large conference table. At this table parents sit down together, negotiate and compromise, come to solutions for their children.

My courtroom is now more calm and temperate since we removed the pictures from the wall and replace them with large canvases of photos from the Great Parks of Hamilton County. These park pictures are calming and inviting with the blues and greens of park trails, waterfalls and meadows. This new environment encourages parents to develop solutions and reach positive outcomes for their children, which is in the best interests of their children!

Second, I am running for re-election because I want to continue to improve the court’s customized service through technology, “e-filing”, the electronic document filing system we recently introduced to Hamilton County Domestic Relations court, is a huge success. Three years ago, we began to develop this system. This plan, created in cooperation with the Clerk of Courts and myself with the expertise of our staffs, has been declared a success by attorneys and the community. Parents, or their attorneys, can now file their court papers from their home computers, saving both time and money for them. I have also introduced a system of text message alerts to victims of domestic violence in our court. Now these victims can feel safer knowing that our text message alert system informs them as soon as their protective orders have been served.

Third, I am running for re-election because I want to continue to serve Hamilton County families with my philosophy that parents divorce each other, not their children. I treat every person who walks into my courtroom with respect, dignity, kindness, compassion and understanding. I remind the parents to remain focused on solutions and not courtroom battles; and to make wise decisions for their kids. The bottom line is this: Courtrooms — and particularly judges– do not need to be loud, intimidating and scary to be effective. The loudest voice is often not the most respected voice. My philosophy for parents and problem-solving is why I am running for re-election as Domestic Relations judge.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
This is my first opportunity to serve as a judge

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
As a general practitioner and partner at a local law firm, I have a broad wealth of legal experience. I have represented clients in Common Pleas Court, Municipal Court, Probate Court, Juvenile Court, and Appellate Court. I have tried cases in every court, to Magistrates, Judges, and Juries. I have assisted clients in dealing with a variety of administrative matters before governmental agencies. As a result, I have a comprehensive understanding of the law and rules that govern the many different areas of the legal field.

This experience has given me the ability to take facts and circumstances in any legal dispute and work towards a fair and just resolution. My time in private practice has afforded me the opportunity to assist people during the most challenging times in their lives. I’ve developed a strong ability to be understanding and compassionate about their individual situations. Every case is unique in its facts and circumstances. My detailed and open-minded approach to every case has served me very well in advocating for my clients. Having had the opportunity to work many cases where my clients were in the wrong has given me the ability to employ a tactful, commonsense approach in order to facilitate a positive result in light of the issues presented.

From owning and operating a corporation to forging my own path as an independent practitioner, I’ve learned the importance of being patient and courteous with others in order to bring out and maximize efficiency and potential. Throughout these endeavors, I faced many challenges, failures, and successes. It has taught me the importance of being resilient and having the courage to continue moving forward to accomplish my goals despite challenges.

Being a lawyer, I’ve utilized my strong work ethic and the ability to communicate and reach people, to effectuate positive change in my own life and the lives of those in our community. My strongest attribute is my ability to learn and comprehend information quickly in order to excel and succeed in any environment. My diverse life experience, combined with my legal experience, has provided me the ability to work for, work with, and to lead others in collaborative efforts to accomplish common goals.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running for this position because I am passionate about our community, and I believe it is time to bring a positive change to our judiciary. Being born and raised in Portage County, I have watched our community grow and thrive. We have faced many challenges and enjoyed many successes.

One of the most pervasive issues in our community has been substance abuse and mental health issues. Unfortunately, many of those suffering these ailments end up lost in the criminal justice system. It is clear that churning out thousands of cases every year, without understanding each individual’s uniqueness, combined with utilizing incarceration as the primary punishment, has failed to help truly rehabilitate these offenders.

Many jurisdictions have taken significant steps toward finding effective ways to rehabilitate individuals. While our county has taken some initial steps toward finding better ways to help those struggling, we have a long way to go before claiming success. I will work tirelessly to not only create a successful drug court, but also to expand the availability of these types of programs to those suffering mental health issues. I believe in the necessity of punishing those that commit violent and egregious acts harshly. On the other hand, those who commit low-level offenses due to substance abuse and/or mental health issues are better served by punishment designed to promote accountability, combined with a strong focus on treatment designed specifically for the afflictions they suffer.

It is also vital for every individual that appears before a court be afforded an equal opportunity for a fair and impartial judgment. I want to ensure our community is confident that when their matter is brought before the court, they will receive the attention and respect necessary to provide justice.

I have been humbled and blessed by the opportunities that have been afforded to me as an attorney serving this community. I want to be a Common Pleas Court judge because of my passion and desire to live my life, bringing positive change and helping others on a much larger scale. I am excited about the opportunity to become part of the foundation that builds our community into a unified, compassionate, and safe environment where every individual has an opportunity to thrive.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Judge, Lucas County Domestic Relations Court, January, 2015 to Present

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
Prior to being elected judge, I was appointed magistrate in the Domestic Relations Court from January, 2012 through December, 2014 and staff attorney for Judge David Lewandowski, Lucas County Domestic Relations Court from December, 1999 to December, 2011.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I ran a successful campaign and won the November 2014 judicial election for a seat on the bench in the Domestic Relations Court.

My reasons for running then have not changed in this re-election year. I initially decided to run for DR judge after being promoted to magistrate. I knew that I could do so much more for our court and the families that we serve. I am committed to resolving cases fairly, expeditiously and within the law for the remainder of this term and the next six years to come.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Justice, Supreme Court of Ohio, 2012-Present; Administrative Judge/Judge, Butler County Court of Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Division, 1999–2012

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
My non-judicial experience informs my judicial experience and I draw upon that experience everyday as a justice at the Supreme Court of Ohio.

I began my career in the justice system as a police officer in the City of Hamilton enforcing the law and keeping the peace. I left law enforcement to attend law school and served as a law clerk in the Court of Common Pleas, General Division for Judge Matthew J. Crehan drafting memos and opinions for motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment.

Serving as a solo practitioner, I practiced law in a wide-array of areas including, but not limited to, criminal, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile in both the trial courts of Butler County and the Twelfth District Court of Appeals. During that time I also served as Special Counsel for Attorney General, Betty D. Montgomery and a part-time Magistrate in the Butler County Area Courts hearing civil cases.

In 2019 the docket of the Ohio Supreme Court of Ohio included the following case types: 48.8% criminal; 21.8% miscellaneous; 17.5% civil; 7% practice of law; 4.9% domestic relations, juvenile, and probate.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am seeking re-election to the Ohio Supreme Court to continue my service to the people of Ohio – applying the law equally – in a fair and impartial manner providing a definitive statement of law in a clear and concise decision.

In addition, I seek to continue my work beyond the bench, including but not limited to, my Lean Forward initiative which advances substance abuse and mental health treatment of justice-involved veterans, civic education about the importance of our tripartite system of government and the role of the judicial branch in that government and the availability of employment opportunities for women and minorities in the law, continuing to write and present legal education programs on important issues like professionalism and cultural consciousness, and my work to expand the reach of problem solving courts by incorporating programs like Bridges Out of Poverty and growing holistic re-entry programs.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I have been the Judge in the Ashtabula County Court since 2013. From approximately 1980 through 1983 I served as a Magistrate in the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have successfully performed in a multitude of Criminal Justice positions in two states and the Federal Court system. I have been as Assistant Public Defender in Erie County Pennsylvania. I have served as an Assistant District Attorney in Pennsylvania; an assistant prosecuting attorney in Ashtabula County Ohio: the prosecuting attorney for the City of Conneaut Ohio and the Law Director for the City of Conneaut Ohio.

In addition I have maintained a successful practice of law focusing on criminal and civil litigation. The position that I am seeking has a caseload of approximately 60% civil cases. I have extensive experience in complex civil litigation including domestic relations; real estate; personal injury cases; contract cases; insurance law cases; and administrative appeals which are a part of the civil caseload of the Common Pleas Judge.

I am the only candidate with the required civil experience for the position. I have a lifelong personal and professional commitment and respect for Law and Order which I will carry into this position.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I have been the Judge in the Ashtabula County Court since 2013. In that time period I have developed highly successful innovative programs utilizing existing court staff and resources at no additional taxpayer expense. Those programs include: an electronic search warrant procedure greatly reducing search warrant preparation time and increasing police officer safety; the first in Ashtabula County to partner with the Ohio Attorney General’s office to collect past due fines and costs which in the year 2019 alone produced over 50,000 in additional collections for the County and court; an Intensive Repeat Offender Operating a Motor vehicle under the influence program which utilizes current technology to monitor repeat offenders for alcohol consumption (Probation reports 95% of these individuals in this program have not reoffended since its inception); an early intervention Domestic Violence program which produces a new risk assessment of the Offender for use in setting bond and a treatment program in our building in partnership with the Lake Area Recovery Center, again at no additional taxpayer expense, and a rolling warrant amnesty program which enables individuals with arrest warrants to voluntarily appear in court, have the warrant recalled and begin the process of resolving their past cases and warrants.

In addition, in partnership with the Geneva Schools/Geneva Rotary and University Hospitals we developed an educational program called Life Consequences where I meet with high school students and discuss the health and legal consequences of behavior.

The traditional criteria that Judicial candidates are evaluated by are Competence; Integrity; Temperament and Experience. I excel in all of these areas.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Magistrate for Columbiana County Common Pleas Court from 2001-2005 Judge for Columbiana County Municipal Court from 2005-2015 Judge for 7th District Court of Appeals from 2015 to date

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I had the privilege of working as a clerk for the law firm of Roth, Stephens, & Blair, LPA while attending law school. This was a perfect opportunity to see the practical application of the law being learned in the classroom. After I was admitted to the Bar in 1983, I became an associate of the law firm where I practiced for four years. My association with the law firm provided extensive experience in probate law, family law, business law, real estate law, civil litigation, and appellate cases arguing before the Court of Appeals I now serve. Working with experienced litigators and attorneys highly respected in their areas of practice provided extensive experience in these areas.

Upon opening my own practice in 1987, I continued to practice in these civil areas. While in private practice, I was often asked to serve on an arbitration panel, frequently as the Chief Arbitrator because of my reputation of being fair and reasonable. Recognizing the importance of the growing alternative resolution field, I became a certified mediator in general law and domestic relations. All of these skills and experiences have been brought to each bench I have had the privilege to serve.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
It is my desire to continue to serve the people of the 7th District. Our district is comprised of eight counties: Mahoning, Columbiana, Carroll, Jefferson, Harrison, Belmont, Monroe, and Noble. In 2014, I was elected to serve as judge for the 7th District Court of Appeals. It was an historical event. The last judge to serve on the 7th District Court of Appeals from Columbiana County was first elected in 1917. My addition to the Court brings trial court judicial experience and as well as extensive experience in civil practice. But it also brings a different individual perspective. I grew up in northern Columbiana County and live on a farm. My husband and I started successful family businesses, the last of which was sold in 2010.

By nature, I am an entrepreneur. With that entrepreneur spirit, my co-Magistrate and I developed protocol for hair follicle testing by the adult probation department in Columbiana County.

As a Municipal Court Judge, I started the first specialty docket in Columbiana County and the first Mental Health docket certified by the Ohio Supreme Court. Recognizing the barriers people from generational poverty face in the judicial system, my staff and I developed Defendant’s Getting Ahead which was adopted by eleven other counties in Ohio by the time I left the trial court bench in 2015. Because of these innovative programs, I mentored trial court judges in Ohio as well as from other states. It has been my privilege to serve the 7th District. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue that service.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Butler County Area III Court Judge, 12 years

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have handled both criminal and civil litigation during twenty years of practice here in Butler County. I have served as an Assistant County Prosecutor, City of Hamilton Prosecutor, was the managing partner of a private practice where I gained experience in many areas of the law, including contract issues, labor law, personal injury, administrative law, and criminal defense. I also was a adjunct professor at Miami University’s Farmer School of Business for thirteen years. I have experience trying cases. I have experience running an office, creating and following a budget, and managing a staff.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
Having served in Area Court for the past twelve years, I have gained a deeper understanding of the challenges facing our community, and have partnered with a number of local agencies to meet the needs of those who find themselves involved with the Court system. To that end, we have created specialty dockets to address issues including mental health and substance abuse.

While the Common Pleas Court also has a number of existing specialty dockets, there is more work to be done. My experience and perspective as a judge and legal practitioner, as well as the relationships that I have built over the past twelve years with social service agencies, law enforcement, and the legal community, will help the Common Pleas Court to continue to find new ways to meet the challenges we face and deliver the justice that our citizens deserve.