Office: Elyria Municipal Court
Age: 59
Residence: Lagrange, OH
Email: judgerobertcwhite@gmail.com
Website:
www.keepjudgewhite.com
https://www.facebook.com/keepjudgerobertwhite
Occupation: Judge-Elyria Municipal Court
Education: B.A. Cleveland State University; J.D. Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Work Experience: Judge-Elyria Municipal Court since 2018; Acting Judge-Elyria Municipal Court 2016-2018; Private practice Attorney-1991-2018; Carlisle Township Trustee- 2004-2012
Family: Married, 3 children, 2 grandchildren
Affiliations: Association of Municipal/County Judges of Ohio; Ohio State Bar Association; Lorain County Bar Association; Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association; University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center- Board of Directors (2013-2018); Firelands Association for the Visual Arts- Board of Directors (2013-2014); Comprehensive Health Care of Ohio- Board of Directors (2010-2013); Rural Lorain County Water Authority- Board of Trustees (2004-2011); EMH Regional Medical Center- Board of Directors (2000-2010); Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Lorain County- Board of Directors (1997-2001); Elyria Rotary Club- Board of Directors (1995-2003) (President 2002-2003); Lorain County Drug Free Youth- President, Board of Trustees (1993-1996); Leadership Lorain County- Class of 1994
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years):
I have been Judge in the Elyria Municipal Court since February 2018, having been selected by the Governor of Ohio to fill the position vacated by Judge Lisa Locke Graves, who retired. Since that time, I have held thousands of hearings and decided thousands of cases. In June 2019, I was approved by the Ohio Supreme Court to operate the first specialized docket municipal drug court in Lorain County. Having served as Acting Judge in the Court for two years prior to being appointed, I have accumulated over 100 hours of training through the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College. 19
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
My civil law practice was seasoned by over twenty-five years of experience in representing families, businesses and public entities in the litigation of complex issues in federal courts, state courts and administrative agencies. My representative clients included many of the area’s most prominent businesses, as well as public clients, such as: the Elyria City School, District, the Rural Lorain County Water Authority, the South Lorain County Ambulance District, the Central Lorain County Ambulance District and Rochester Village. I was elected to three terms as a Carlisle Township Trustee (2004-2015) and served two terms as President of the Lorain County Township Association. Throughout my career I served on a myriad of public and non-profit boards and professional associations across Lorain County, including: University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center- Board of Directors (2013-2018); Firelands Association for the Visual Arts- Board of Directors (2013-2014); Comprehensive Health Care of Ohio- Board of Directors (2010-2013); Rural Lorain County Water Authority- Board of Trustees (2004-2011); EMH Regional Medical Center- Board of Directors (2000-2010); Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Lorain County- Board of Directors (1997-2001); Elyria Rotary Club- Board of Directors (1995-2003) (President 2002-2003); and Lorain County Drug Free Youth- President, Board of Trustees (1993-1996). I am a 1994 graduate of Leadership Lorain County. My service on these boards allowed me to develop relationships with a large and diverse group of community leaders. I work hard and always have. I started working as a pre-teen in my father’s gas station, then attended college and law school at night, while supporting my family working on local factory assembly lines and as a carpet installer during the day. I have brought all of these experiences to my service as Judge of the Elyria Municipal Court.
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I served as Acting Judge in the Court beginning in 2016 and fell in love with the work. After being selected by the Governor to fill the full time position in 2018, I was able to utilize my 25-plus years of experience as a litigator, as a business owner, as a community board member and as an elected official to establish new programs, as well as to modernize and streamline court operations. There is still much to be accomplished. I established the first municipal drug recovery court in Lorain County. I will continue to operate and expand that court to help people stop using drugs, turn their lives around and become more productive members of the community. Successful treatment can lessen costs to taxpayers by reducing the rate of recidivism and therefore the burden on law enforcement, courts and the prison system. I plan to cooperate with law enforcement and the faith community to establish a warrant safe surrender program that will allow people to address outstanding warrants in an environment that is safer for them, law enforcement and the public. I also will establish a driving under suspension program to help citizens who have been buried in fines, costs and BMV reinstatement fees to develop a workable plan to regain valid privileges.