Login | December 22, 2024
Judge Parker going “home” to Cleveland
Summit County judge selected federal magistrate
TRACEY BLAIR
Legal News Reporter
Published: January 22, 2016
Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Tom Parker fell into the legal profession by accident.
“I decided to become a lawyer because I knew how bad I was at math,” Parker said in a telephone interview.
But on the pathway to becoming a highly-respected lawyer who specialized in product liability issues and complex multi-party actions, Parker ended up picking up some necessary math skills along the way as well.
The 61-year-old Cuyahoga Falls resident was elected judge in 2008 and re-elected to the bench in 2014.
After more than six years as judge, Parker is accepting a new challenge in March.
Parker, a Republican, was recently selected as a U.S. Magistrate judge in Cleveland. He will serve an eight-year term, replacing Magistrate Judge Greg A. White, who will retire effective Feb. 29.
“We are extremely pleased to have Thomas Parker joint the court as a magistrate judge,” Chief U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. said in a news release. “He has distinguished himself as a jurist and a practitioner.”
Parker was in private practice at Roetzel & Andress LPA in Akron from 1979 through 2002, representing clients in civil, criminal and domestic relations matters.
After that, he was a partner at Parker, Leiby, Hanna & Rasnick LLC in Akron.
During his 30 years in private practice, his cases were in the courts of 20 states.
He got his first taste of how governmental organizations work as a member of the Akron Board of Education from 1990 to 1993.
“It showed me what a challenge the public schools face,” said Parker.
As a judge, Parker said what he has enjoyed most is having the chance to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
“I have absolutely loved my job,” he said. “It’s fascinating on a daily basis. Fairly often I hear from defendants. I run into people who have been in my court. Every once in awhile, someone I sent to prison will stop in and say, `I’m on the right track.’ That happens more often than you’d think.
“People who come to the court look to the court system to give them justice. There is so much behind the scenes the public never sees.”
Parker estimates he’s presided over about 15 murder trials and five or six contentious medical malpractice cases.
His biggest challenge was the case of Shawn Ford, the man he sentenced to death for fatally beating a New Franklin couple with a sledgehammer in their home.
Parker is married to his wife, Melisa, who has worked as a legal secretary and paralegal. They have six children together ranging in age from 15 to 35, plus five granddaughters.
Although he’ll miss working with all the people he’s grown close to in Akron, Parker felt he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work in federal court.
His father, Stephen, was a lawyer in downtown Cleveland.
“I grew up in Shaker Heights. I’m kind of a Cleveland kid at heart,” said Parker. “This will in a way be like going home.
“I’m thrilled for the opportunity. Most of my legal firsts occurred in the Northern District of Ohio. I think it’s going to be a fascinating challenge — a completely different body of law. And not having to run for reelection every six years is pretty appealing.”
At least for now, Parker has no plans to move for his new job.
“My daughter is in 10th grade at Cuyahoga Falls,” he said. “We won’t uproot her during school.”
In his spare time, Parker enjoys riding bicycles and motorcycles, and going on hikes with his wife and 5-year-old corgi.
Writing is another passion.
“I blog, but I harbor secret desires to write short stories,” he said.
As a judge, his motto has always been to show up for work and treat people with respect.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as a judge,” Parker added. “It’s not a right. I always tell people, `I work as a judge. It’s not who I am.’ “