This article is part of the Voters Guide produced in partnership with the League of Women Voters of the Akron Area.
To learn more about the judicial candidates, visit Judicial Votes Count.
Susan Baker Ross
Non-partisan
Campaign Email: judgesusanbakerross@gmail.com
Candidate Email: susanross45@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/JudgeSusanBakerRoss
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Management University of Akron; Juris Doctorate Degree University of Akron School of Law; admitted to the practice of law in the State of Ohio in November, 1991.
Training / Experience: Legal Intern with the City of Akron Law Department from 1989-1992; Assistant Prosecutor in the Civil Division of the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office from 1992-1997 and the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office from 2001-2010; Judicial Attorney/Magistrate and then Traffic Court Magistrate for the Akron Municipal Court from 2012-2019; Private law practice; Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge May 2019; Presiding Judge Summit County Valor Court Aug 2022; Common Pleas Court Presiding Judge Feb 2023
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I have served as Judge for the Summit County Common Pleas Court since May, 2019. I previously served as both a Judicial Attorney/Magistrate and then Traffic Court Magistrate for the Akron Municipal Court from 2012-2019. In these positions I have presided over thousands of civil, criminal and traffic cases.
In addition to my normal judicial responsibilities, I was selected to serve as Presiding Judge over the Summit County Valor Court in August, 2022. Valor Court recognizes that many of our veterans return to civilian life with serious trauma, both physical and mental, which may lead to their involvement with the criminal justice system. In Valor court, veterans are given access to programs, treatment and interaction with mentors in a collaborative initiative to enhance chances of success.
Additionally, I serve as Presiding Judge of the Common Pleas Court and have done so since February, 2023. In that role I oversees the Jury and SEE COMPLETE RESPONSE AT WWW.JUDICIALVOTESCOUNT.ORG
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
As an Assistant Prosecutor in the Civil Division of the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office from 1992-1997 and the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office from 2001-2010, I handled a large variety of civil legal issues that I now address as a judge.
In my private law practice on and off throughout the years I focused on criminal defense, wills and guardianships, contracts, and domestic relations.
Throughout the years I have developed a good work ethic and strong writing and interpersonal skills. As a result I am able to manage difficult cases and difficult litigants in a respectful manner.
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I love my job serving Summit County as a Common Pleas Court Judge. I will continue the work of helping those who have entered the system due to addiction and mental illness while also protecting the rights of the victims in the court system. I give each case thoughtful consideration and seek to help all of the parties to our court cases if possible.
I am very effective in our Veterans Valor Court and wish to continue to help our Veterans find their way out of the court system for good.
I bring honesty, common sense and integrity to the bench. I will also bring my experience, strength and hope to the bench that comes from long term recovery and almost 35 years of sobriety.
I am asking the voters to re-elect me and let me continue to do the job for which they elected me in November, 2018. Thank you for your consideration!
Susan K. Steinhauer
Non-partisan
Editor’s note: This candidate did not reply to requests for information.
