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Akron Bar Association Announces 2017 Judicial Ratings
Published: October 6, 2017
AKRON––The Akron Bar Association Commission on Judicial Candidates has been established by the Akron Bar Association to evaluate candidates for local judgeships. The Commission rates the candidates “Excellent,” “Good,” “Adequate,” or “Not Acceptable.” Ratings are based on seven criteria: integrity, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence, personal responsibility and public and community service.
The Akron Bar Association has created a website – http://www.YouBeTheJudgeSummitCounty.com – to not only promote the Commission’s ratings, but to serve as a central source of information about the local judicial candidates appearing on the November ballot. In addition to the ratings, links to the candidates’ websites and social media pages can easily be found.
All ratings require a majority vote of the Commission; a rating of “Excellent” requires two thirds supermajority of the Commission. The ratings are not intended to be a comparison or endorsement of candidates, but only represent the Commission’s evaluation of each individual candidate’s qualifications for the specific office sought.
A rating of “Adequate” requires a vote of a majority of the Commission members present. If a candidate is rated “Adequate,” a second ballot is taken to determine if the rating “Good” will be awarded, also requiring a vote of the majority of the Commission members present. If a candidate is rated “Good,” a third ballot is taken to determine if the rating “Excellent” will be awarded. The “Excellent” rating requires the affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the Commission members present.
The Commission is comprised of 28 experienced members of the Akron Bar Association selected by its Municipal Courts Committee, Common Pleas & Appellate Courts Committee, Family Law Section, Probate Law Section, the Chair of the Commission and the Bar President. No more than 50% of the Commission may be from any one political party. All candidates complete a questionnaire containing extensive biographical data and submit relevant materials, including writing samples. References for the candidates are interviewed and intensive interviews of the candidates are conducted.
This year, the Commission, co-chaired by Al Schrader and Lisa Miller, evaluated the judicial candidates running in the election scheduled for November 7, 2017.
The ratings are as follows:
Akron Municipal Court Unexpired Term to End December 31, 2019
Jason Adams GOOD
Ron Cable GOOD
Akron Municipal Court
Beginning January 1, 2018
Annalisa S. Williams EXCELLENT
Akron Municipal Court
Beginning January 2, 2018
Elisa Hill GOOD
Kathryn Michael ADEQUATE
Akron Municipal Court
Beginning January 3, 2018
Ann Marie O’Brien EXCELLENT
Nicole Walker GOOD
Barberton Municipal Court Term
Beginning January 1, 2018
Todd McKenney EXCELLENT
Margaret Scott GOOD
The Akron Bar Association was founded in 1875 and is an Ohio not-for-profit corporation with a membership base of over 1,600 members consisting of lawyers, judges, paralegals, legal staff, law students, and paralegal students. In addition to serving our members, we serve the public by providing referrals to pre-screened lawyers, Notary Public seminars, testing and supplies, and investigating grievances against attorneys with a Summit County mailing address.