Office: Cuyahoga County – Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court,
General Division
Age: 60
Residence: Bratenahl, OH
Email: cpccw@cuyahogacounty.us
Website: N/A
Occupation: Common Pleas Judge, General Division
Education: J.D. Cleveland Marshall College Of Law; B.A. Miami
University
Work Experience: Practicing attorney since 1991. Employed at Forbes,
Forbes & Associates from 1989-1999; had my own law firm from 1999
– 2012
Affiliations: National Bar Association; National Bar Association
Magazine Editor; Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association; Life
Member Of Cleveland Marshall College Of Law Alumni Association;
Life Member Of Miami University Alumni Association; Ohio State Bar
Association; National Council Of Negro Women.
Endorsements: N/A
Bar Association Ratings: N/A
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years):
I was elected to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General
Division, in November of 2012. I have been on the bench since January
2013.
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a
judge?
I was a practicing attorney from 1991 to 2012. During that time I
practiced extensively in federal courts, state courts, and municipal
courts. I was retained by clients to practice in probate court, juvenile
court, domestic relations court, and common pleas court, general
division. I did criminal law, both misdemeanors and felonies. I did civil
law, both easy and small to large and complex. I represented both
plaintiffs and defendants. I represented individuals as well as
companies, corporations, and churches. I handled cases from the initial
intake to the settlement or trial. In other words, I have a broad and
well-rounded legal background. That background helps me handle my
cases effectively and efficiently as a judge. Since I have had extensive
non-judicial legal experiences, it helps me to be patient, compassionate,
and to empathize with all litigants and their counsel.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running to retain my seat on the common pleas bench. I believe
that since I have been on the bench I have had a positive impact on the
citizens of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. I work hard to dispense justice to all
of Cuyahoga County in a fair and impartial manner. It is my pleasure to
serve the citizens of Cuyahoga County by adjudicating cases as
efficiently as possible. I enjoyed being 1 of 5 judges with a mental health
development disabilities docket for 18 months. I am also thrilled to be 1
of 4 judges with a commercial law docket. And finally, I am running to
retain my seat to maintain diversity on our bench. I love being a judge
and the feedback that I have received from my first 6 years on the
bench reinforces my belief that 1 person can make a difference in the
lives of many. The Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General
Division consists of 34 judges. We are a great team and as a whole we
serve the people well.