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Common pleas court undergoing many changes
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: April 8, 2016
A self-described team player, Robert Gainer has been doing his part to improve various functions in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas - General Division for over 20 years.
But recently Gainer took on a brand new role after officially being appointed as the new court executive officer.
“The court is a wonderful place to work,” said Gainer. “I take great pride in the fact that I work for 10 judges elected by the people of the county. It is really an honor to work for them and do my part to keep the court functioning.”
As court executive officer, Gainer oversees the day-to-day business operations, including personnel issues pertaining to the 150 employees.
He also serves as administrative liaison between the judges and other county offices, professionals and the general public.
“Our office does everything from purchase furniture to dealing with the case management system and vendors,” said Gainer.
“When a new judge begins serving, we make sure he/she feels as comfortable as possible.”
A native of Barberton, Gainer received his bachelor’s degree in business and organizational communication from The University of Akron in December of 1990.
The following year, he became a salesperson for plastic bag manufacturer Mid-West Poly Pak. He said the sales job evolved into an assistant general manager position in 1993.
With both sales and management experience under his belt, in 1995 he landed a job as the work release coordinator in the adult probation department of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas - General Division. Three years later, he began a stint as special projects officer, where he acted as the bailiff for the visiting judges and played an active role in the courthouse renovations in the late ‘90s.
In 2001, he was appointed assistant court executive officer, working under then court executive officer Andy Bauer. One of his most recent accomplishments includes joining forces with Bauer and Jay Chapman, director of information technology, to secure grant money to provide wall-to-wall Wi-Fi coverage in the courthouse.
Gainer became interim court executive officer in December 2015 while Bauer was on a leave of absence. Bauer retired at the beginning of 2016 and Gainer took the reins as court executive officer on Feb 1.
“One of the things I love the most about this job is that it allows me to be part of a team,” said Gainer, who lives in New Franklin with his wife, Dawn and two teenage children Rachel and Grant.
“I feel that I have always been able to accomplish the most when I am part of a group, whether that group is my family or in a work environment.”
Chapman said Gainer was serving as special projects officer when the two first met. He describes Gainer as a “great communicator. He is extremely knowledgeable and is an effective leader,” said Chapman. “He’s very well respected by the court’s personnel and always goes the extra mile to get things done.”
Summit County Court of Common Pleas Administrative Judge Thomas Teodosio said Gainer is “a wonderful choice” for the position of court executive officer. “He has been with us many years as assistant court executive officer and when the former court executive officer needed to take a leave of absence, he stepped in and performed well in the position.”
“Bob did a very solid job as interim court executive officer,” said Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Todd McKenney, who was elected in 2014.
“I am the newest judge in the court,” said Judge McKenney. “For the most part it is a very collegial environment in which judges talk to one another and offer suggestions to each other about items on their dockets.
“Since I have been here I have handled a little bit of everything—I’ve empaneled a grand jury, presided over 15 jury trials, filled in at the re-entry court and visited the prison twice with other judges to discuss the best approach to assisting inmates that are returning to the community.”
The change in court executive officer isn’t the only one to take place in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas - General Division.
Toward the end of March, Judge Thomas M. Parker bid the court farewell to begin an eight-year term as a United States Magistrate Judge in Cleveland. He was selected by the judges in the Northern District Court of Ohio to replace Magistrate Judge Greg A. White, who retired on Feb. 29.
“I will be handling assigned duties in both civil and criminal cases that are brought to the federal court,” said Judge Parker. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the seven years that I have been at the common pleas court. I have had some challenging cases to deal with.
“Although I will miss some things, I am excited for the new opportunity to move to a federal court,” he said.
As of the publication of this article, Gov. John Kasich hadn’t appointed a replacement for Judge Parker. “Whoever is appointed will have to run for the unexpired portion of my term in November,” said Judge Parker, whose term would have ended on April 30, 2021.
Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Lynne S. Callahan is also preparing to leave since she is unopposed in her bid to replace 9th District Judge Beth Whitmore.
“I think the reality of the upcoming change has not sunk in yet,” said Judge Callahan. “It’s bittersweet. I’m looking forward to the new challenge but I'll certainly miss what I do here and the people I work with in this court. Every court offers its own unique experiences and challenges and I’ve been fortunate to be exposed to those experiences and challenges on several levels. I spent 11 years as a judge in Akron Municipal Court and am now in my eighth year in common pleas court,” said Judge Callahan.
“I’m hoping that down the road when people ask me how I like the court of appeals, I can give the same answer that I gave when people asked me if I liked common pleas court better than municipal court. I simply said, ‘I like it different.’”
In addition, Judge McKenney is running for re-election in November.
“It is hard but good work at the court and I would very much like to continue,” said Judge McKenney.
In the case of Judge Teodosio, he’s hoping to replace retiring 9th District Judge Carla Moore on the court of appeals.
“It would be an honor to succeed Judge Moore, whose distinguished career on the bench I hold in high regard,” said Judge Teodosio. “I look forward to bringing 33 years of legal experience to the 9th District Court of Appeals. Having served on the Summit County Court of Common Pleas since 2007, I will apply that judicial experience to the appellate bench, which I believe is a natural progression from sitting as a trial judge for the past nine years.”