Judge Carla Moore was first African-American woman elected to a judicial seat in Summit County. She was a successful associate with one of Akron’s largest law firms in 1980 when she pursued an opportunity to become an assistant US attorney for the Northern District of Ohio representing the federal government and its agencies in litigation including bankruptcy, civil fraud, civil rights, contracts, environmental litigation, social security and medical malpractice.
She was promoted to deputy chief of the Civil Division in 1984 and promoted again in 1986 to chief of Appellate Litigation. She left the U.S. Attorney’s office in 1988 for a private firm.
Moore received a B.A. in German from The University of Akron and a Juris Doctor degree from The Ohio State University College of Law. She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1977 and accepted a position as assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Section, where she gained trial experience enforcing Ohio’s anti-discrimination statute in state and federal courts.
Moore was appointed to the bench in 1989 by Gov. Richard Celeste following the death of Judge Harold Stubbs. She retained the seat in the November 1989 election. As important as her work is on the bench, Judge Moore further distinguishes herself by her tireless efforts on numerous civic boards and organizations, where she gives humbly and freely of her time to help those less fortunate and less accomplished.
Photo courtesy of the Beacon Journal.
–Zachary Jackson