Clarissa M Allega
For Judge of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Full Term Beginning 1/5/2023
Candidate Details
- Residence
Uniontown - Email
clarissaallega@gmail.com - Social Media
facebook.com/ClarissaAllega - Age
42 - Occupation
Attorney - Education
University of Akron School of Law, Juris Doctor, cum laude, Dec. 2006
University of Akron, Bachelor Science in Accounting, magna cum laude, Aug. 2002
- Work Experience
Solo Practitioner, Oct. 2016 to present, Law Office of Clarissa Allega, LLC - manage all aspects of a small legal practice; practice handles business formation and labor issues, business litigation, landlord representation, taxation defense, domestic relations and custody, estate planning, foreclosure and mortgage loss mitigation, as well as consumer bankruptcy
Of Counsel, Oct. 2008-Oct. 2016, Raymond M. Powell Co., LPA - actively managed a growing consumer bankruptcy docket, including both chapter 7 and chapter 13 petitions; managed the firm's mortgage loss mitigation and foreclosure defense clients
Associate Attorney, May 2007-Oct. 2008, Raymond M. Powell Co., LPA - managed workers compensation, real property disputes and personal injury litigation clients, including appellate practice; drafted wills, trusts and other estate planning documents, including probate practice; grew and managed the firm's consumer defense practice including bankruptcy, foreclosure, state and federal taxation, and consumer debt litigation
Judicial Law Clerk, Sept 2006-April 2007, Canton Municipal Court - researched civil, criminal and procedural matters for four judges and two magistrates; drafted legal opinions and orders for Court as requested
Legal Intern, Jan. 2006-Aug. 2006, Stark County Public Defender - represented indigent misdemeanor defendants in Stark County Juvenile Court and Canton Municipal Court, under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney; provided legal research support for attorneys as necessary
- Family
Married with 3 children - Affiliations
Ohio State Bar Association - Banking, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section Member, Taxation Section Member, Elder and Special Needs Law Section Member
Former Elected Official - held office first a Councilmember, then as Mayor in the Village of Clinton. Service terminated due to residential move from Clinton to Uniontown.
Northwest Jackson Soccer League - Board Member since 2003
Community Development Services, Inc (fka Neighborhood Conservation Services of Barberton) - Board Member since 2019
Roman Catholic - Parishioner at St. Augustine Church, Barberton
Clarissa M Allega
Question 1
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
No prior experience serving as Judge
Judicial Law Clerk, Sept 2006-April 2007, Canton Municipal Court
Judicial Intern to Judge Cosgrove - Sept 2005-December 2005, Summit County Court of Common Pleas
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersNo prior experience serving as Judge
Judicial Law Clerk, Sept 2006-April 2007, Canton Municipal Court
Judicial Intern to Judge Cosgrove - Sept 2005-December 2005, Summit County Court of Common Pleas
Question 2
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
In my elected position as Mayor of Clinton, I had to impartially review all aspects of matters presented to me and navigate a fair resolution for the Village and other concerned parties. Additionally, my fifteen years a practicing attorney have provided me with experience in multiple court rooms, representing many different parties in a multitude of different situations.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersIn my elected position as Mayor of Clinton, I had to impartially review all aspects of matters presented to me and navigate a fair resolution for the Village and other concerned parties. Additionally, my fifteen years a practicing attorney have provided me with experience in multiple court rooms, representing many different parties in a multitude of different situations.
Question 3
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running for this judicial seat for two reasons:
First, as a practicing attorney, I have noticed that the Court's docket for this particular Judge moves at a slower pace than the other dockets in the same Court. This leads me to believe that there is room for improvements on the bench to create a more efficient system to resolve cases for both criminal and civil matters. Nothing changes without action.
Second, I firmly believe that elections should involve choices for the voters, and allowing a seat to remain on the ballot unopposed is not in the best interest of the community. Unopposed elections involve no real choice for Summit County residents who may be disastified with the service and actions of the Judge currently holding the seat.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersI am running for this judicial seat for two reasons:
First, as a practicing attorney, I have noticed that the Court's docket for this particular Judge moves at a slower pace than the other dockets in the same Court. This leads me to believe that there is room for improvements on the bench to create a more efficient system to resolve cases for both criminal and civil matters. Nothing changes without action.
Second, I firmly believe that elections should involve choices for the voters, and allowing a seat to remain on the ballot unopposed is not in the best interest of the community. Unopposed elections involve no real choice for Summit County residents who may be disastified with the service and actions of the Judge currently holding the seat.