Need help navigating courts in Akron, Summit County? Experts share helpful tips

Ward 1 meeting notes

• The meeting opened with an update on Highland Square. Council Member Fran Wilson said Highland Square had been quieter over the previous two weeks after recent public attention and media coverage. Wilson gave an update on parking lot changes:
  • Walgreens and Mustard Seed Market & Cafe will close their lots after midnight.
  • The Chipotle lot will close at 1 a.m. Cars may exit the Chipotle lot until about 3 a.m.
  • Towing may happen between 3 and 5 a.m.
• Wilson said the city is trying to balance safety and order while allowing Highland Square to remain a thriving business district.
• Beautification updates in Highland Square were also shared:
  • Flower beds near Chipotle and the library have been improved.
  • The Special Improvement District helped fund the work.
  • Keep Akron Beautiful is maintaining the beds.
  • Large planters were placed in Highland Square through an America’s 250th grant.
  • Barricades in the square have been painted after residents said they were unattractive.

Experts provide an overview of local, state courts

Wilson said local government has three branches:

• Legislative: Akron City Council
• Executive: mayor and administration
• Judicial: courts and judges

Akron Municipal Court handles many local matters, including:

• Traffic tickets
• Misdemeanors
• Some civil claims
• Evictions

Felony cases are handled through the county-level court system. 

Victims of crime can access assistance programs

 Zachary Gilgenbach, assistant director of services advocacy with the Victim Assistance Program, explained how advocates help people understand the court process. He said advocates are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice.

Advocates help people understand:

• Where to go in court.
• What may happen during a case.
• Who they may see in court.
• What victims and witnesses may need to know.
• How to navigate difficult or confusing court systems.

He explained several court roles in plain language, including:

• Defendant: The person accused of committing a crime.
• Prosecutor: The attorney representing the municipality.
• Victim, survivor: The person harmed by the crime.
• Witness: A person who saw or experienced something related to a case.
• Court reporter: The person who keeps the official record of what is said in court.
• Interpreter: A person who helps make sure people understand court proceedings if they need language or accessibility support.

He said courtrooms usually include the judge, court staff, attorneys, the defendant, witnesses, a gallery and sometimes a jury box.

Four court systems handle cases in Ohio

Akron Municipal Clerk of Courts Sandra Kurt discussed the structure of Ohio’s court system. She said she is not an attorney and was not giving legal advice.

There are four court levels in Ohio, Kurt said. They are:

• Ohio Supreme Court
• Court of Appeals
• Common Pleas Court
• Municipal Court

She said Summit County is part of the Ninth District Court of Appeals.

The common pleas court

This court includes several divisions that handle different types of civil and criminal cases:

• Domestic Relations: Divorce, dissolution, child custody and protection orders
• General Division: Major civil and felony criminal cases
• Juvenile Division: Cases involving young people
• Probate Court: Estates, wills, mental illness, adoptions and marriage matters

The Akron Municipal Court District

This court’s jurisdiction includes Akron and several surrounding communities, including Bath, Richfield, Mogadore, Lakemore and Springfield Township, Kurt said.

She also said Summit County has an unusually high number of female judges compared with many other counties.

How to access public records, get legal help

Kurt said many court records are public and can be searched online. She said residents may search court records to check someone’s court history, such as when hiring someone or checking the background of someone connected to their family.

She also shared resources to get legal help, including:

• Ohio Legal Help
• Akron Bar Association lawyer referral service
• Community Legal Aid

The clerk’s office cannot recommend a specific attorney because that would be a conflict, according to Kurt.

Public defenders aid those who can’t afford an attorney

An attorney spoke about Summit Legal Defenders, the public defender’s office for Summit County. She said the office represents people who cannot afford an attorney when they face criminal charges that could result in jail or prison time. 

People charged with minor misdemeanors that do not carry possible jail time usually do not receive a public defender.

She said public defenders represent people who are considered indigent, meaning they meet income eligibility guidelines or cannot afford to hire a lawyer.

Here’s what Summit Legal Defenders handles

Summit Legal Defenders represents:

• Adults charged with misdemeanors or felonies.
• Children accused of delinquency in juvenile court.
• Parents in abuse, neglect and dependency cases.
• People contesting certain adoptions.
• People filing appeals in some criminal, custody or related cases.

The office also helps with:

• Record sealing
• Expungement
• Juvenile record issues
• Driver’s license restoration

What the agency did in 2025

Last year, Summit Legal Defenders worked in several different courts and handled thousands of cases. Here is some of what they did:

• Akron Municipal Court
  • More than 3,000 felony arraignments
  • More than 5,000 misdemeanor cases
  • More than 1,600 traffic cases

• Barberton Municipal Court
  • About 400 felony arraignments
  • 744 misdemeanors
  • More than 300 traffic cases

• Stow Municipal Court
  • More than 600 felony arraignments
  • More than 1,300 misdemeanors
  • More than 500 traffic cases

In Summit County Common Pleas Court, they handled felony cases and community control violation cases. The office also handled 37 appeals through the Ninth District Court of Appeals.

How to contact Summit Legal Defenders

• 80 S. Summit St. in Akron
• Residents can call the office if they are unsure whether they qualify or whether the office can help. The number is 330-434-3461.

Common Pleas Court handles civil, felony criminal cases

Judge Joy Malek Oldfield, a Summit County Common Pleas General Division judge, spoke about the work of the Common Pleas Court.

She said Common Pleas Court handles:

• Civil lawsuits of $15,000 or more.
• Large civil cases, including cases involving millions of dollars.
• Foreclosures
• Civil stalking protection orders
• Felony criminal cases

She said municipal court cases can lead to jail time, while common pleas felony cases can lead to prison or, in the most serious cases, death.

Felony drug court works to support charged adults

Oldfield said she runs Summit County’s adult felony drug court program, called Turning Point. The program serves people charged with crimes who also need drug treatment and court supervision. The goal is to help participants become stable, sober and productive. 

Oldfield said the program uses objective screening criteria so that people are not referred based only on personal opinions or bias. Screenings may include:

• Type of crime charged
• Drug history
• Criminal history
• Clinical evaluation
• Risk evaluation

Participants in the program may receive:

• Court supervision
• Drug treatment
• Case management
• Community support
• Regular check-ins with the judge

Oldfield said participants move through phases. As they progress, they come to court less often because they are expected to be more stable, employed, parenting well or meeting other life goals. She said graduation from the program includes family, friends and sometimes the officer who arrested the participant.

Drug Court outcomes show promise 

Oldfield said the court reviewed a group of graduates and found that one year after graduation, more than 90 percent had not been rearrested, re-convicted or re-incarcerated. She said after two and three years, the number dropped to about 80 percent.

To support long-term success, the court created an alumni network to keep graduates connected through sober social activities.

Free legal help available

Oldfield also discussed the Summit County Pro Bono Collaborative. The program connects volunteer attorneys with people who need civil legal help. The clinic is held on the first Friday of the month, except around some holidays. People can pre-register, but walk-ins are also accepted. Issues may include:

• Child support
• Housing
• Debt collection
• Other civil legal problems

Community partners may also be present to help with other needs, such as housing, child support, jobs and family services. 

Oldfield said the clinic served about 50 people at one session and about 35 at another. The next clinic date mentioned was Aug. 7.

At the close of the meeting, the audience participated in a trivia game about the courts.

🗓️ New events calendar! From block parties to concerts and kids’ activities, find fun around Akron and Summit County all year long. Dive into the calendar and start planning.

Other ward updates

Ohio House Bill 249

• Wilson said that they and Mayor Shammas Malik co-sponsored a bill opposing Ohio House Bill 249.
• It was described during the meeting as a “drag ban bill.”
• Wilson said the local legislation calls out concerns that the state bill may violate First Amendment rights and may negatively affect LGBTQ+ communities.

Highland Square Branch Library

Mae Lee, adult services librarian, shared upcoming library events.

• Job and Family Services will be at the library on the first Tuesday of the month to help residents one-on-one with benefits and related needs.

• Ideastream Public Media will return to the library to interview residents about local, state and national political issues ahead of the midterm elections. The event is July 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• “Rhythm and Stacks” series. The library will host live music through the series. Next up is Brazilian jazz musician Moises Borges on July 22 at 6 p.m.