Office: For Judge of the Eighth District Court of Appeals
Term Beginning 2/11/2021
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Age: 45
Residence: South Euclid
Email: Gayleb326@gmail.com
Website: www.JudgeGayle.com
Social Media:
Occupation: Administrative and Presiding Judge, South Euclid Municipal Court
Education: J.D. from Case Western Reserve University; MBA (nonprofit focus) from Case Western Reserve University; B.A. from Case Western Reserve University (Political Science, Sociology, minor: Economics)
Work Experience: Administrative and Presiding Judge, South Euclid Municipal Court, 2012 – Present; Judicial Fellow, National Judicial College (Reno, Nevada), 2018 – Present; Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, Grand Jury and General Felony Supervisor; General Felony Drug Court Prosecutor; General Felony In-Charge Prosecutor; Assistant County Prosecutor, Office of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, 2002 – 2011, Legislative Aide, United States Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change, Wetlands and Nuclear Safety (Washington, DC), 2001 – 2002
Family: Married, 1 child, 1 grandchild
Affiliations: Member – Beulah Baptist Church; Vice President – American Judges Association; Member – Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.; Member – American Bar Association; Instructor – National Bar Association
Endorsements: Statehouse: Sen. Kenny Yuko Sen. Sandra Williams Rep. Terrance Upchurch Rep. Kent Smith Rep. Bride Sweeney Rep. Phil Robinson Cuyahoga County: Yvonne Conwell, County Councilwoman Pernell Jones, County Councilman Mayors: Ed Kraus, Solon Annette Blackwell, Maple Heights Martin Horwitz, Beachwood Michael Byrne, Parma Heights Matthew Castelli, Middleburg Heights City Councilmembers and Leaders: Joe Jones, Cleveland Ward 1 Kevin Bishop, Cleveland Ward 2 Kerry McCormack, Cleveland Ward 3 Phyllis Cleveland, Cleveland Ward 5 Richard Starr, Cleveland Ward 5 Democratic Leader Blaine Griffin, Cleveland Ward 6 Michael Seals, Cleveland Ward 7 Democratic Leader Michael Polensek, Cleveland Ward 8 Kevin Conwell, Cleveland Ward 9 Anthony Hairston, Cleveland Ward 10 Jasmin Santana, Cleveland, Ward 14 Brendan Heil, Esq., Cleveland Ward 15 Democratic Leader Brian Kazy, Cleveland Ward 16 Martin Keane, (Fmr.) Cleveland Ward 17 Councilman Charles Slife, Cleveland Ward 17 Julian Rogers, Cleveland Heights Democratic City Leader Kahlil Seren, Cleveland Heights Councilman Davida Russell, Cleveland Heights Councilwoman June Elizabeth Taylor, Beachwood City Council Lloyd Anderson, Bedford Heights Councilman Vice President Harvey Brown, Bedford Heights Councilman Michael Willis, Bedford Heights Councilman Andrew Mizsak, Bedford City Leader Paula Mizsak, (Fmr.) Vice Mayor, Councilwoman Donald Saunders, Councilman Victory Fluharty, Councilman Tadd Pinkston, Berea City Leader Robert Belovich, Brecksville City Leader Christopher Callender, Oakwood Elaine Gaither, Oakwood Juanita Gowdy, East Cleveland Councilwoman Korean Stevenson, East Cleveland Councilwoman Nathaniel Martin, East Cleveland Councilman Una Keenon, East Cleveland School Board Member Dr. Mary Rice, East Cleveland School Board Member Gladys Walcott, (Fmr) East Cleveland Councilwoman Shayla Davis, Garfield Heights Councilwoman Tom Vonn, Garfield Heights Councilman Stephana Caviness, Euclid Councilwoman Dorise Hagwood, Warrensville Heights Councilwoman Matthew Howard, Warrensville Heights City Council President Walter Stewart, Warrensville Heights Councilman Elona White, Warrensville Heights Councilwoman Ray Freeman, Warrensville Heights School Board Traci Mitchell, Warrensville Heights School Board Woodrow Marcus, North Randall City Council President Iris Cheers, North Randall City Councilwoman Sheila Sanders, North Randall City Councilwoman Karolyn Isenhart, Lakewood Democratic City Leader Jason Shachner, Lakewood Councilman Erik Meinhardt, Lakewood Democratic Club President Lora Thompson, Lyndhurst Democratic City Leader Troy Greenfield, Fairview Park Democratic City Leader Edwina Agee, Maple Heights Councilwoman Stafford Shenett, Sr., Maple Heights Councilman Richard Trojanski, Maple Heights City Council Dana Anderson, Maple Heights City Councilwoman Ron Jackson, Maple Heights City Council President Toni Jones, Maple Heights City Councilwoman Leroy Peterson, Maple Heights Democratic City Leader Timothy Buxton, Maple Heights Deputy Democratic City Leader Paul Marnacheck, North Royalton Councilman Daniel Langshaw, North Royalton Councilman Christopher Glassburn, North Olmsted Democratic City Leader Deborah Lime, Parma Councilwoman Tom Mastroianni, Parma City Treasurer Juanita Lewis, Richmond Heights Councilwoman Cassandra Nelson, Richmond Heights Councilwoman Eloise Henry, Richmond Heights Councilwoman Virgina Adams, Richmond Heights Democratic City Leader MIchael O’Shea, Rocky River Democratic City Leader Matt Trafis, Seven Hills Democratic City Leader Raymond Weeden, Walton Hills Councilman Nakeshia Nickerson, Woodmere Councilwoman Craig Wade, Woodmere Councilman SharNette McCulley, (Fmr) Woodmere Councilwoman Vern Long, Westlake Democratic City Leader
Bar Association Ratings: Judge4Yourself.com 2020 Ratings: AABA (Good); CMBA (Good); CCDLA (Satisfactory); NSMBA (Good); OWBA (Good)
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Administrative and Presiding Judge, South Euclid Municipal Court (2012 – Present) Preside over bench and jury trials as well as various hearings including arraignment, pre-trial, bond, violation/revocation and motion hearings. Conduct proceedings related to small claims, taxes, traffic and criminal offenses, housing violations and evictions. Conduct bond, protection order and preliminary hearings for felony defendants. Review and authorize search warrants as requested by various police and law enforcement agencies. Research and write legal opinions in response to motions and hearings presented to the court. Actively communicate, work, and engage other governmental officials and offices regarding changes and updates to the law while identifying their intersection with the functionality of the court. Engage opposing counsel and pro se litigants in pretrial conferences. Prepare and present the annual court budget to the local funding authority to ensure resources for the fair administration of justice. Attend local and national conferences as both a participant and instructor to obtain and provide instruction on changes in the law. Attend community events and distribute court newsletters to educate the general public about the role of the court. Oversee the daily functionality of the court processes and staff, ensuring appropriate staffing levels and proper training availability for all team members. Respond to all grievances from staff, litigants and/or court visitors. Appoint jury commissioners to ensure fulfillment of jury demands and access in litigation. Appoint assigned counsel to indigent defendants in criminal matters. Establish programming including but not limited to the only Specialized Mental Health docket in Cuyahoga county’s suburban courts as well as the only Night Court in the county, which serves to provide enhanced access to justice for parties.
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have been appointed to serve as the only Judicial Fellow for the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. In this capacity, I teach both seated and web-based courses on various topics to judges throughout the United States. I also research and write articles for publication in coordination with my counterparts from the American Bar Association on specialized subject matters. This is particularly important for the Court of Appeals as this is a scholarly court which requires an intense amount of research, writing and attention to detail. The opinions released by judges must be clearly articulated in a manner that ensures understanding by the reader and ability for those governed by the decision to follow through. This is the role of a teacher or instructor. This is the work I perform regularly with my judicial colleagues in educating them about their current duties as judicial officers and would continue to perform as an Appellate judge.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
For 90% of all cases presented for review, the Court of Appeals represents the final opportunity to have these matters heard and ultimately adjudicated. Cuyahoga County is the largest county in Ohio, therefore the 90% of cases heard by the 8th District Court of Appeals represents a considerable and impactful amount of cases as compared to other parts of the State. The judges responsible for deciding these cases must possess the depth of knowledge, skill and ability to navigate these often complex and life altering matters.
I am running for this seat because I am the most qualified candidate with the broadest level of experience, knowledge and commitment to the Rule of Law. I would add considerable value to this important bench both well into the future. I have a strong and diverse litigation background as well as experience as an Administrative and Presiding Judge whose responsibilities include the daily oversight of court proceedings and delivery of thoughtful, scholarly opinions. I am conscientious of the important role that this court plays as it interfaces with the trial courts. I would bring to bear my rich experience of having argued before this court, as well as my current responsibilities as a multi-disciplined judge tasked with teaching my colleagues nationwide. This would undoubtedly provide the bench and our legal community the benefit of diversity in perspective as well as being an asset in deciding, shaping and articulating ever changing and emerging issues in the law.