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Former Barberton muni judge is finding her stride in Summit County
TRACEY BLAIR
Legal News Reporter
Published: June 23, 2017
She started Barberton Municipal Court’s first Drug Court, was the first person in her immediate and extended family to go to college and has been a tireless advocate for children’s rights.
Now, Jill Flagg Lanzinger is destined for even more great things as Summit County Common Pleas Court judge, said Barberton Municipal Court Presiding and Administrative Judge David Fish.
“She has more energy than probably all the judges over there put together,” Judge Fish said of the 37-year-old Green resident. “She’s like the little Energizer bunny –always on the move.”
Judge Lanzinger took office in Summit County April 3 after being appointed by Gov. John R. Kasich to replace Judge Thomas A. Teodosio, who was elected to the 9th District Court of Appeals.
“It’s going great so far,” Judge Lanzinger said. “I love where I am. I like being in the action as a trial court judge.”
Judge Lanzinger, a Republican, must win in the November 2018 election to retain the seat for the full six-year term commencing May 17, 2019.
She was appointed judge in Barberton Municipal Court in February 2015, and was later elected to the post.
She said her experience on Barberton’s Drug Court has already helped her on the bench in Summit County.
“I know the different programs and medications that are available,” Judge Lanzinger said. “I estimate that 70 to 80 percent of my cases have some type of drug component. The majority of them involve heroin, as well as some meth and some alcohol.”
Judge Fish said he was impressed with Judge Lanzinger on the Drug Court.
“She has a great capacity for wanting to help those in the throes of substance abuse,” he said. “She has a true, caring heart to want to help. She goes the extra mile to find funding, and she is doggedly determined to try and find service providers to assure these people get help.”
Originally from Fostoria, Ohio, Judge Lanzinger and her three brothers were born to parents who worked their entire adult lives in factories.
“From a young age, I wanted to go to college. By the end of my high school years, I knew I wanted to be an attorney. My stepfather and I would watch `Law and Order’ reruns. He regretted not going to law school, so maybe I got brainwashed,” she said with a laugh.
Judge Lanzinger graduated from Heidelberg College cum laude with a bachelor of arts in psychology and political science.
“I went to Heidelberg on a music scholarship,” she said, “but I changed my major to psychology to save money. I was a singer. I still sing at the occasional fundraiser.”
While attending the University of Akron School of Law, Judge Lanzinger worked as a judicial law clerk to Akron Municipal Court Judge Alison McCarty. She has also been employed at the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office and served as a substitute magistrate in Akron Municipal Court.
In addition, she has worked in private practice and been a guardian ad litem in Summit County Juvenile Court.
Judge Lanzinger is a published writer on the subject of sexual abuse litigation and has argued before the Ohio Supreme Court for the extended rights of childhood sexual abuse victims.
Her husband, Dr. William Lanzinger, is related to retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger’s husband.
Dr. Lanzinger is head of hand surgery at Akron General Hospital. The couple has three children — daughter, Annabella, 13; and sons, David, 10, and Alex, 3.
Judge Lanzinger’s advocacy efforts for children grew after her middle child was diagnosed with high-functioning autism in early childhood.
“I got more passionate about it when I became a mother, especially when I became a mother of an autistic child,” the judge said. “You see the worst of human behavior in the courtroom — especially as a judge. It makes you afraid for your kids.”
In her spare time, Judge Lanzinger runs with the Portage Lakes Running Club. She has completed four full marathons and at least six half marathons.