In celebration of the Akron Bar Association's 150th Anniversary (2025), the highlights below showcase a few significant figures in the history of the Association and the Summit County legal community. Enjoy learning about those who helped shape the legal world in Akron!
- Private Practice; Law School Dean; Judge
- Did not attend law school. Engaged in “reading law” with Judge Newell D. Tibalis. Admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1874 after passage of the Bar Examination (probably an oral examination administered by a local judge) and determination of moral fitness
- After teaching in the Buchtel College Law Department for many years, Judge Grant, in 1921, founded the Akron Law School (forerunner of The University of Akron School of Law). He served as Dean for eight years, until his death in 1929. Although he was an 1872 graduate of the Western Reserve College in Hudson, Ohio, Judge Grant had no formal legal training. He apprenticed (which was common during this era) with Judge Tibalis of the Summit County Court and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1874. He was appointed Summit County Probate Judge in 1882 and later became an appellate judge for the Eighth Ohio District. In 1921, the same year he founded the Akron Law School, Judge Grant was appointed as one of the original members of the newly constituted Ninth District Court of Appeals.
- President, Akron Bar Association 1914-1915
- Corporate Attorney
- Best known as the internationalist Republican candidate for President of the United States in 1940, Wendell Wilkie was active in the Democratic Party for many years. At the 1924 National Democratic Convention, he lobbied for a platform plank condemning the Ku Klux Klan. Returning to Akron, he led a successful campaign to oust Klan members from the Akron Board of Education. He was president of the Akron Bar Association in 1925.
- Judge, Ninth District Court of Appeals beginning 1937
- Served as a Field Artillery Commander in World War I. Returned to Akron following the war and was elected prosecutor in 1920 and then served on the Summit County Court of Common Pleas.
- Judge - United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- University of Cincinnati College of Law - 1920
- Nominated by President Eisenhower to serve as appeals court judge. Also was a judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
- Judge Victor was an assistant Summit County Prosecutor from 1946 until 1950. He was a Judge on the Akron Municipal Court from1950 until 1959, a Summit County Common Pleas Judge from 1959 until 1971, and a Judge on the Ninth District Court of Appeals from 1971 until 1983. Following his retirement from the appellate court, he served as a respected visiting judge.
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law – 1937
- Judge Victor served in the United States Army during World War II, receiving the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat in Germany. He retired from the army as a lieutenant colonel. He loved sports. He was an avid tennis player and a member of the Akron Metropolitan Parks Hiking Club. He was a season-ticket holder for University of Akron football and basketball games. He was a highly regarded member of the Akron legal community and a recipient of the Sir Thomas More award.
- Judge, Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals
- Akron Law School – 1945
- On her first day of law school she was identified as a woman by her professor who told her women had no place in the law and that he would make it his mission to see that she failed. Judge Cacioppo retorted that she would make it her mission to succeed. And succeed, she did! She was a trailblazer and mentor to many.
- First female assistant law director for the City of Akron. First female chief prosecutor. First female referee (now magistrate) for Domestic Relations Court.
- Private practice
- Ohio State University School of Law – 1946
- Recipient, Sir Thomas More Award, 1999. He was a member of the Akron Bar Association, Akron Barrister's Association (co-founder), American Bar Association, American Judicature Society and Ohio Bar Association.
- Mr. Fort was very active in the community. He was a trustee on the board at The University of Akron, serving as board president from 1974 to 1977. He served on many other boards including the Great Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America, American Red Cross Summit County Chapter (chairman 1979), American Red Cross Board of Governors, University of Akron Foundation, the former Akron Area Chamber of Commerce and as its president in 1973, The Akron Community Service Center and Urban League (president), Akron Regional Development Board and its Executive Committee.
- Encouraged by his parents that he could succeed, Howard left Wichita upon graduating from high school and went to Lawrence, Kan., carrying $35 for his tuition at the University of Kansas. The University of Kansas was one of the few schools that admitted blacks at that time.
- Mr. Fort left the University and went to Kansas City, Mo., where he worked as a car hop and a bus boy. He later decided to go to work on the Pennsylvania Railroad in Ohio and wound up in Columbus where he had a brother who operated a hamburger restaurant. Mr. Fort worked at the restaurant and attended Ohio State University. He bought the restaurant from his brother and operated it while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1940. He said he went to class “smelling like sausage and bacon."
- The Akron-Canton Barristers is a legal, charitable, cultural and civic group of more than 90 African-American attorneys and judges in Summit and Stark counties. It was founded in 1948 as the Akron Barristers Club by fourteen Black male lawyers in Akron with a mission to fight against segregation and discrimination in housing, education and employment. These individuals had a mutual interest in and dedication to justice and civil rights for all. The founding Barristers were very active in the legal profession, their churches, NAACP, politics, and most were in fraternities and other civic organizations.
- Now known as the Akron-Canton Barristers Association, it is an affiliate chapter of the National Bar Association, the nation’s oldest and largest national association of predominantly African-American lawyers, judges, educators, and law students. The organization hosts educational seminars for attorneys, legal fairs and mock trials; provides scholarships, mentoring and employment opportunities for law students, and advocates for increasing the number of African Americans in the legal profession and the criminal justice system.
- Private practice and judge including service as U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- University of Michigan School of Law – 1948
- Judge Contie served in the United States Army during World War II, attaining the rank of sergeant.
- Judge, Akron Municipal Court
- University of Pennsylvania School of Law – 1948
- Sir Thomas More recipient
- Taught briefly at Fort Valley State College in Georgia (during that time, he applied to the Univ. of Georgia Law School and he was denied admission due to his race and he was told to leave the State of Georgia)
- In 2000, Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama completed the Joseph D. Roulhac Hall, a residential dormitory named in his honor (Roulhac family has a long history of relatives who graduated from Stillman)
- 1999 – City of Akron named a housing development, Roulhac Circle, in his honor
- Biblical scholar (he had planned to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a minister until he opted to go to law school)
- Private practice of law (primarily business and tax law), initially with Herndon & Bartlo, which merged with Buckingham Doolittle & Burroughs in 1971.
- Cleveland – Marshall College of Law – 1947
- While in the US Army, after completing Officer Training School, Sam was sent to Harvard University to learn Japanese. After the end of World War II, he was stationed in Nagasaki, Japan. Thereafter, Sam and his wife of 65 years, Gwen, became world travelers. They visited at least 36 countries on five continents, highlighted by a personal audience with Pope John XXIII at the Vatican.
- President, Akron Bar Association - 1967-1968; President, Ohio State Bar Association - 1977
- Ralph was employed by the Summit County Probate Court from 1946 until his retirement in 1993. At the time of his retirement, he was the Court’s Chief Referee. He continued to work part time at the court until his death in March 1994,
- University of Akron School of Law – 1950
- Ralph was a World War II veteran who used the GI Bill to attend law school. He was first hired at Probate Court by Judge Dean May while he was in law school. Each judge thereafter recognized his value to the Court and kept him on. He was a fixture at the Court and a great resource for anyone who practiced there. At the time of his death, Larry Poulos, who at that time was serving as Chief Referee, said, “He will be long remembered by all of the attorneys who have had dealings with Probate Court for the last 50 years.”
- Mayor, City of Akron from 1966-1979
- University of Michigan School of Law - 1948
- John was Summit County Prosecutor from 1957-1964. He was also an infantry lieutenant in General Patton;s army during World War II and a special agent for the FBI.
- Judge, Summit County Juvenile Court from 1971-1989
- University of Akron School of Law - 1952
- Served as a juvenile probation officer as well as a juvenile court referee for 19 years. Judge Kannel made many contributions to the Summit County community through his service on too many boards to outline here! He started the court-appointed Special Advocate Guardian Ad Litem program at the juvenile court.
- Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio – 1958-1999
- University of Akron School of Law – 1952
- Awarded a Purple Heart and four Battle stars for his service in World War II as a First Lieutenant in the US Army. Received the Andy Palich Award from the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame for his life-long promotion of running
- Private Practice Attorney; Assistant Prosecutor
- Akron Law School, 1954
- West High School Class of 1942; taught and coached sports there following college. Served in the US Navy on the island of Saipan during World War II.
- Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio – 1982-2010
- University of Akron School of Law – 1952
- Judge Bell was an assistant county prosecutor for Summit County. Also served as judge for the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court, the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, and the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals.
- Assistant prosecutor, Judge in Akron Municipal and Common Pleas courts
- Ohio State University School of Law – 1956
- Judge Schneiderman administered the oath of office to current Akron mayor Shammas Malik in 2024.
- Private Practice (general practitioner)
- University of Akron School of Law - 1957
- Bedford earned three Purple Hearts and the French Foreign Legion Award for his service during World War II.
- Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Founding Partner, Brennan Manna & Diamond
- Western Reserve University School of Law - 1957
- At 6 feet 6 inches and wearing a white cowboy hat, Brennan was known for rescuing failing businesses and blighted areas and initiating and shepherding Ohio’s school choice movement.
- His donations endowed the Scholarship Fund of the Akron Bar Foundation.
- Private Practice with Amer Cunningham & Brennan and with Brouse McDowell
- University of Illinois School of Law - 1953
- President of the Akron Bar Association from 1976-1977. Authored a book entitled, "Order in Your Court: Happiness in Your Life.Also served as an attorney for the US Navy and in the Ohio Attorney General's office.
- Frank practiced litigation with Brouse McDowell. Among other things, he served, at different times, as the firm’s managing partner and as firm counsel. After becoming “Of Counsel” with the firm, he served as Director of the Joseph G. Miller and William C. Becker Center for Professional Responsibility at the University of Akron School of Law.
- Ohio State University School of Law – 1958
- While serving in the United States Air Force, Frank received intensive training in Russian Language and, while stationed in Turkey, intercepted and monitored radio traffic at a Russian missile launching location regarding U-2 overflights. Frank was an excellent trial lawyer. He was particularly adept at cross examining witnesses, always asking leading questions as a good cross-examiner should. He was also a car lover. A small sampling of the cars he owned and drove at different times were a Cobra, a 12 cylinder Jaguar, a DeLorean, and a Peugeot. It was always fun to ride with Frank.
- Akron Bar Association, President – 1983-1984
- Private practice for over 40 years (including Of Counsel with Brennan Manna & Diamond and President of Amer Cunningham & Brennan
- University of Akron School of Law - 1960
- Nick was also general counsel for Alside and served in the US Air Force from 1953-1966. He was the first graduate of the University of Akron School of Law when the Akron Law School merged with the University of Akron. Named Outstanding Alumni from Akron Law in 2007. President of the Akron Bar Association from 1986-1987.
- After practicing law for six years, Judge Quillin was elected to the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court, where he served from 1962 until 1968. He then served as a Summit County Common Pleas Judge from 1968 until 1980. He was a judge on the Ninth District Court of Appeals from 1980 until he retired in 2000.
- Western Reserve Law School – 1956
- Judge Quillin loved golf. He was a longtime member of Silver Lake Country Club where he played every Saturday and Sonday morning and Wednesday afternoons. He enjoyed the conversations at the lawyers’ table in the Masonic Temple, at which he could be found most weekdays. He loved the law and worked hard to perfect the thousands of appellate opinions he wrote during his 20 years on the Ninth District.
- Private Practice Attorney; Intellectual Property Litigation
- University of Akron School of Law - 1963
- Won the annual Akron Bar handball tournament several times, once with Judge Dan Quillin who secured the trophy for display outside the Ninth District Court of Appeals courtroom in the Ocasek Building and wouldn’t surrender or share it!
- Civil rights. As an example of his exemplary career dedicated to advancing civil rights and according to an April 2012 article in the Akron Beacon Journal, Parms is noted for challenging the racial composition of black firefighters and police officers in the city of Akron with a federal lawsuit in 1972.
- University of Akron School of Law – 1965
- Among his many awards, Ed has received the Harold Stubbs Humanitarian Award in Law and the Akron Jaycees Award for Outstanding Community Service. He was also nominated for the American Bar Association’s Thurgood Marshall Award. The prestigious national award recognizes substantial, long-term contributions to furthering civil rights in the United States.
- Private Practice: Parms, Purnell, Stubbs & Williams
- University of Akron School of Law – 1958
- First African American Traffic Referee in Akron Municipal Court. While attending law school he worked as an Akron Police Officer. Along with Attorney Ed Parms, he was pivotal in the successful challenge to the racial compaction of black fire fighters and police officers in Akron. He was a criminal justice instructor for Kent State University.
- Judge, Summit County Common Pleas Court
- University of Akron School of Law - 1965
- First cousin to Judge Bill Spicer. Mary was a magistrate in probate court before becoming the first woman elected to the Common Pleas bench in Summit County. She served for twenty-four years and presided over the infamous Doug Prade murder trial. Her background and degrees in social work led her to developing and presiding over the county’s first felony drug court.
- Judge Bill Spicer and Judge Mary Spicer were highly-respected members of the judiciary. For over 30 years, when attorneys entered the Summit Count Court House they saw the name “Spicer” over the doors to a courtroom. While their personalities and demeanor were vastly different, the Spicer judges distinguished themselves on the bench by their judicial temperament, intelligence, style, and consistency.
- Judge, Summit County Court of Common Pleas
- University of Akron School of Law – 1965
- Principal founder of Alpha Phi Alpha Homes, Inc., a non-profit corporation responsible for building more than 1,600 housing units in 10 Northeast Ohio communities. One of the One of the housing buildings, a 140-unit senior citizens apartment building in Akron, is named in his honor, the James R. Williams Tower.
- Judge James R. Williams was the first African American to serve as a Summit County Common Pleas
- The 25th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
- On March 18, 2024, the Lawton Street Community Center was officially renamed by the City of Akron as the James R. Williams Community Center in honor of the late Judge.
- In January of 2025, President Biden signed a measure renaming Akron’s Main Post Office (the Wolf Ledges Post Office) the Judge James R. Williams Post Office.
- Judge, Akron Municipal Court
- Howard University School of Law – 1966
- Named outstanding Professor by University of Akron Black Law School
- Association 1987; 2) The Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award Is named for him; 3) In honor of Judge Stubbs the City-County Safety Building was renamed the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center. 4) He served as the 4th Ward Akron Councilman from 1980-1983.
- Private Practice: Insurance Defense then Personal Injury Litigation
- Vanderbilt University School of Law – 1965
- President, Akron Bar Association 1988-1989; Recipient of the Akron Bar Association Professionalism Award in 1998. The award was alter renamed the Bradford M. "Buck" Gearinger Award in his memory.
- Buck and his wife Paula visited 392+ major and minor league ballparks.
- Criminal defense (in a Nov. 2017 Akron Beacon Journal article upon his passing, Jim was referred to by reporter, Bob Dyer, as “quite likely the best criminal defense attorney in Akron history.”)
- University of Akron School of Law – 1978
- In 1985, The Akron Beacon Journal’s Beacon Magazine profiled Jim's courtroom accomplishments in a cover article entitled “The Consummate Counselor” with a similar story in 1994 entitled “The King of the Court.”
- Judge of the United State District Court for the Northern District of Ohio - 1982-1996
- University of Michigan School of Law - 1954
- Judge Dowd served on the Ohio Supreme Court and taught an advanced course in criminal law at the University of Akron School of law from 1971-1975.
- Trial Lawyer; Chairman/CEO Roetzel & Andress
- University of Virginia School of Law - 1971
- Upon graduation, he returned to Akron and began his 42-year career with Roetzel & Andress.
- Nominated as one of Law360’s “Most Innovative Managing Partners” in 2010, he implemented a philosophy of fostering collegiality among the firm’s hundreds of attorneys and staff and implemented that policy by regularly traveling a circuit of the firm’s offices.
- Tim was honored by the University of Akron in 2009 as one of its distinguished alumni.
- He was a founding member of InfoLine, Inc. and the Ohio Legal Center Institute.
- He loved watching basketball, he also had a passion or pinball, Spider Solitaire and Jack Daniels.
- Judge Slaby served as Summit County Prosecutor from 1981 until 1995; as a Judge on the Ninth District Court of Appeals from 1995 through 2009; as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2011 until 2012; as a member of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio from 2012 until 2017; and as a member of the Ohio Casino Control Commission from 2017 until 2024.
- University of Akron School of Law – 1972
- While prosecutor, among other things, Judge Slaby had Jeffrey Dahmer brought back to Ohio after his conviction and sentence in Wisconsin to face a murder charge for the 1978 death of Steven M. Hicks of Coventry Township. Dahmer pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, to run consecutively to 15 life imprisonment terms imposed on him in Wisconsin. During his time on the Ninth District, he heard over 2000 cases and, by appointment of the Chief Justice, served as a visiting justice on the Ohio Supreme Court.
- Judge, Summit County Probate Court
- University of Akron School of Law - 1972
- First cousin to Judge Mary Spicer. Bill served as Summit County probate judge for thirty one years. During his distinguished tenure he issued groundbreaking guardianship decisions in the areas of blood transfusions, surrogacy, and removal of life support. As an administrator, he created a well-oiled machine in the probate court noted for its efficiency and predictability. The probate bar knew that their matters would be handled promptly and judiciously.
- Judge Bill Spicer and Judge Mary Spicer were highly-respected members of the judiciary. For over 30 years, when attorneys entered the Summit Count Court House they saw the name “Spicer” over the doors to a courtroom. While their personalities and demeanor were vastly different, the Spicer judges distinguished themselves on the bench by their judicial temperament, intelligence, style, and consistency.
- Trial Lawyer
- University of Notre Dame School of Law - 1973
- Orville Reed is the leading civil trial lawyer of his generation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in high profile cases. Before entering law school, he was a seminary student. His success in he courts demonstrates not only his brilliance as a trial lawyer, but his ever-present and strong faith. He is the recipient of many awards, including the Sir Thomas More Award.
- Private Practice: Criminal/Litigation
- University of Akron School of Law – 1973
- 1995-1996 President, Akron Bar Association. 2010 President, Ohio State Bar Association. Plays a “mean” rock guitar. Former state university table tennis champion at the University of Connecticut.
- Professor (primarily Constitutional Law) and past Dean, The University of Akron School of Law
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law – 1974
- During his long association with The University of Akron, Dean Aynes served as the university’s interim athletic director in 1993-1994. For this service, he was awarded the University of Akron Board of Trustees “Outstanding Administrator” Award. It was the second time he received this Award. It was also granted for 1992-1993, at which time he was the Associate Dean of the Law School.
- Retired – currently with Lieberth Consulting Group and deeply involved with the opening of the Akron History Center, and Akron’s 150th anniversary events
- University of Akron School of Law – 1978
- In the Akron Bar Association, he has chaired the Family Law Committee, served as Secretary to the Board, and started the initiative to provide a panel of lawyers for media contacts. He’s also been involved for many years with the Summit County Historical Society, where he is a Director Emeritus.
- Judge, Ninth District Court of Appeals (2004-2017)
- Ohio State University Moritz College of Law – 1977
- Judge Moore was appointed to the Akron Municipal Court in 1989, succeeding Judge Harold K. Stubbs. Judge Moore was the first Black woman to serve on this Court and was, likewise, when elected to the Ninth District Court of Appeals. One of the most awarded jurists in Akron history, her many accolades include the 50th Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award. Judge Moore was recognized with the Sir Thomas More Award in 2016.
- Retired Professor, University of Akron School of Law
- University of Akron School of Law - 1978
- Dean began competing in the Senior Olympics at age 50 in shot and discus, qualified for the national competition 11 times, and once came in second nationally. President, Akron Bar Association, 2007-2008.
- Judge
- University of Akron School of Law
- Judge Cook has been an appellate judge since 1990 with the Unites States Court of appeals for teh Sixth Circuit, the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals. Judge Cook and her late husband, Robert F. Linton, founded College Scholars, Inc., devoted to mentoring young students from elementary school through high school. Successful scholars were awarded full college scholarships funded by Judge Cook and her husband. She is the recipient of many awards, including the Sir Thomas More Award.
- Judge, Summit County Juvenile Court
- University of Akron School of Law – 1977
- First African American female graduate of the law school. First African American female Chief City Prosecutor (hired by Mayor Ray in 1980) First African American female Common Pleas Judge in Summit County (elected in 1990). Teacher – Thornton Jr. High School & Buchtel High School in the Akron Public Schools (1971-1977)
- Private practice, Construction law; business and commercial litigation; environmental litigation; liability defense; probate, trust, and guardianship litigation; government sector litigation including eminent domain
- Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law – 1979
- Ron is an avid fly fisher and is a member of a trout fishing club. President, Akron Bar Association 1996-1997. President, Ohio State Bar Association 2016
- Deputy Director of Law and Member of the Mayor’s Cabinet (City of Akron)
- University of Akron School of Law – 1977
- President, Akron Bar Association 1997-1998 (First African American to hold the office.) United States Army (inducted as a private, graduated from Officer Candidate School as a second lieutenant, and received an honorable discharge with the rank of first lieutenant). Labor Relations Representative & Industrial Relations Analyst – Ford Motor Company. Staff Attorney – Western Reserve Legal Services. Associate – Parms, Purnell, & Gilbert
- Bar Leader and Legal Aid Lawyer
- University of Akron School of Law - 1980
- Jane was the first woman President of the Akron Bar Association. She continued her service to her profession as President of the Ohio State Bar Association. She served as director for Pro Bono and Communications at the Ohio Legal Assistant Foundation for twelve years, serving Legal Aid Lawyers and their clients throughout Ohio.
- Private practice, Defense Counsel
- University of Akron School of Law - 1973
- Larry is one of the co-founders of Heart to Heart Communications, Inc. (recently merged with United Way of Summit County), which is a spiritually-centered interfaith organization that encourages people and organizations to connect faith, values, and ethics with their lives and work.
- Philanthropist
- University of Akron School of Law - 1982
- Sir Thomas More Award Recipient, 2012
- Received several notable awards for her philanthropy and commitment to the area. In 2000 she received the Bert A Polsky Humanitarian Award.
- She started volunteering int he 1960s for such organizations as the Junior League, Weathervane Playhouse, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Ohio Ballet, Blossom Music Center as well as chairing the boards of the Akron Civic Theater, Summa Hospital, the Summa Foundation, Akron Community Foundation, and the University of Akron.
- Judge, Summit County Probate Court
- University of Akron School of Law - 1982
- Judge Stormer is the reason that specialized dockets and therapeutic treatment courts exist in Ohio. She had the first drug court and the first mental health court in the state and inspired/assisted many in expanding the concept of treatment courts. General Counsel for the Summit County Law Department; Judge, Akron Municipal Court; Judge Summit County Court of Common Pleas General Division
- Bar Leader and Summit County Juvenile Court Judge since 2003
- University of Akron School of Law - 1982
- Judge Teodosio was President of the Akron Bar Association and Ohio State Bar Association. She has run six marathons, numerous half marathons and is the longest serving juvenile court judge in Summit County history. She has received numerous local, state and national awards for her legal work.
- Executive Director, Project GRAD
- University of Akron School of Law – 1984
- Recipient of the Akron Bar Association Professionalism Award. Former Magistrate, Summit County Juvenile Court
- Jackie has always been interested in utilizing her legal background and experience to serve the community. She has been the President of many organizations, including the University of Akron Law Alumni Association, Akron Barristers Association (4 terms), Akron Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (2 terms), Akron Roundtable's Board of Directors, and the Young Adult Missionary Society of Wesley Temple AME Zion Church.
- Judge, Akron Municipal Court since 2003. Prior to her service as a judge, she practiced in the areas of criminal, juvenile, domestic relations, bankruptcy and probate law.
- University of Akron School of Law – 1978
- Among her many awards, Judge Williams has received an Outstanding Alumni Award from Kent State University (her undergraduate alma mater) and Akron Law as well as the OSBA’s Ritter Award which is a lifetime achievement award.
- Summit County Prosecutor from 2001 - 2024
- Capital University Law School - 1985
- Sherri is Summit County's longest serving prosecutor and the first in Ohio to have a facility dog to comfort victims and witnesses. She is a national, state, and local award winner.
- Private Practice Attorney; Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority Legal Counsel; Director of Human Resources, City of Akron
- University of Akron School of Law – 1952
- Virginia was a registered nurse and worked in that profession for 25 years before becoming an attorney. She was active in Alpha Kappa Alpha. She had an infectious laugh and was always fun to be around. President, Akron Bar Association from 2003-2004.
- Clinical professor of law and director of the Akron Law’s Reentry and Civil Practice clinics
- University of Akron School of Law - 1986
- Joann is a former member and chair of the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Appointment of Counsel in Capital Cases.
- Public Servant - Human Resource and Legal Professional
- University of Akron School of Law – 1999
- Chief Executive/Court Administrator for Akron Municipal Court; Director of human Resources for the City of Akron
- Originally from Chattahoochee, Florida. Mastered Japanese as a second language during high school. expert in Japanese language and culture.
- Treasurer of the Akron Bar Association 2025-2027
- Past President, Akron-Canton Barristers and the Ohio Association of Court Administrators. Also served on the Ohio State Bar Association Board of Governors.
- Judge, Summit County Domestic Relations Court
- University of Akron School of Law – 2008
- Private practice for 14 years
- Judge Hightower was the first Black Domestic Relations Judge in Summit County. She has been elected Presiding Judge the Court of Common Pleas for 2025. Judge Hightower’s mother, Linda Harvey Williams, is also a well-known Akron attorney and, by following in her footsteps, Judge Hightower has set an example for the empowerment of women to create a mother-daughter legacy of service to the community through the practice of law.
- Judge, Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals from 2020 -
- University of Akron School of Law - 1990
- Judge Sutton served in the US House of Representatives from 2007-2013 and at the time was the youngest woman ever elected to the role. Was a Barberton City Council member while in her first year of law school