Login | September 26, 2024
New chief magistrate takes the helm at probate court
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: March 3, 2023
A Summit County Probate Court magistrate, with a background in federal law enforcement was recently appointed chief magistrate.
Steve Elliott began his new role at the court in January, replacing former longtime chief magistrate George Wertz, who is now chief magistrate emeritus.
Elliott, who initially joined the court as a part-time magistrate and court investigator in 2018 had been serving as a full-time magistrate since July 2021.
“As chief magistrate, Steve is the ‘first responder’ to questions, holds hearings and decides cases,” said Summit County Probate Court Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, who appointed him to the position.
“Steve brings a unique set of experiences, which will be very helpful in the role,” said Judge Stormer. “He was in private practice for a number of years and dealt with all the issues that come before the court.
“We are a solution-oriented court and having someone with that type of experience is helpful to the court and practitioners because he has been on the ground trying to solve problems.
“He does have big shoes to fill as his predecessor George Wertz was the court’s chief magistrate since 2010,” said Judge Stormer. “George started working with Steve last year to help him transition to the new role.”
“I absolutely love the job,” said Elliott. “I have more administrative duties, but the position also allows me to do a lot of public outreach, including handling presentations at various agencies, the prosecutor’s office and the Ohio Association of Magistrates, which I really enjoy.”
A native of Canton, Ohio, Elliott received his bachelor’s degree in criminology from Bowling Green State University.
In 1997, he began his career working for the state of Ohio as a parole officer in Cuyahoga County.
He then joined the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) in Langley, Virginia.
“I worked in the protective services division, where we were in charge of protecting personnel, property and facilities,” said Elliott. “I was stationed at the visitor control center and responsible for interviewing and conducting investigations into everyone who visited the agency, whether they had clearance or were unauthorized visitors.
“I learned a great deal at the agency and I really enjoyed it, but I knew I wanted to start a family so I needed a career that would allow me to be involved in my family’s life,” said Elliott. “I was always interested in law. I started my career in law enforcement, but I thought the best way to move forward was by going to law school.”
After earning his juris doctorate from The University of Akron School of Law in 2003, he became an associate at Eoff & Elliott, where he initially focused on civil, commercial and real estate litigation.
He later started the firm’s probate litigation, estate administration and estate planning practice.
Elliott then became a partner at Davis Elliott in July 2015.
Prior to beginning at Summit County Probate Court as an investigator and part-time magistrate in October 2018, Elliott served as a full-time parole officer for the Ohio Adult Parole Authority while continuing to practice law part time.
“When I started working at the court, my magistrate duties included adoption cases, name changes and estate administration,” said Elliott. “When I became a full-time magistrate I continued hearing those cases and added guardianship and protective order cases from Adult Protective Services.
“One of the things I enjoy about being a probate court magistrate is that you are presented with situations where the answer can’t always be found in the statute and you have to come up with creative ways to solve or attack the problem,” he said.
“I really enjoy working with Judge Stormer, who is very proactive and innovative,” said Elliott.
During his time as magistrate, he’s presided over civil commitment hearings and the New Day Court program begun by Judge Stormer.
The first of its kind in Ohio for those who have been civilly committed and a national model for other Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) courts across the country, New Day Court provides support and services to those with severe mental illness who’ve been released from the hospital.
“We get updates from participants on how things are going and oftentimes family members accompany them to the hearings,” said Elliott. “We work with participants and families as they adjust to their medication and work to get their lives back on track.”
Elliott, who has been married since 2000 and has one college- and two high school-aged children said it’s important to him to give back to the community and the legal profession.
A member of the Ohio State and Akron bar associations and the Ohio Association of Magistrates, he serves on the board of the Akron Bar Association Estate Planning, Probate, & Elder Law Section.
He is also on the board of the Green Youth Basketball Association.
“I’m involved in several local athletic associations and travel baseball, softball and basketball associations,” said Elliott. “I also coach my son and daughter’s travel baseball and softball teams and am involved in my church.”
Looking back on his career, Elliott said things could not have worked out better.
“I left the CIA so I would have time to be a part of my family’s life,” said Elliott. “I not only accomplished that, but I have a job that I love.”