Cynthia Westcott RICE For Judge of the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas General Division

Candidate Details

Residence
Brookfield
Email
judgecyntiarice@gmal.com
Website
judgecynthiarice.com
Social Media
facebook.com/judgecynthiarice
Age
64
Occupation
Judge
Education
University of Akron School of Law, Juris Doctor

Purdue University, Bachelor of Science, Krannert School of Management
Work Experience
Judge, Eleventh District Court of Appeals                                                 2003 – Present
Presiding/Administrative Judge 2007, 2016, 2020
Preside over appellate cases in Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Portage, and Trumbull Counties.

Ohio Judicial Conference
Executive Committee 2011 – present
Criminal Law & Procedure Committee co-chair 2011 – present
Appellate Law & Procedure Committee 2013 – present
Ohio Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Court Security 2013 - 2020

United States Attorney’s Office 1999 - 2001

Assistant United States Attorney, General Crimes Division, Youngstown, Ohio
Responsible for prosecuting to trial assigned federal offenses including firearms violations, drug trafficking, and bank robbery.

Special Assistant United States Attorney 1997 – 1999

Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office                                                       1991 - 1999

First Assistant, Criminal Division
Chief Counsel, Vertical Prosecution Unit, Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force
Criminal Administrator
Chief Counsel, Drug Prosecution Unit

Private Practice, Rice Law Offices                                                              1989 – 1993
General law practice including contracts, probate matters, and family law.
Family
Married with 3 adult children
Affiliations
Ohio State Bar Association

Trumbull, Portage, Geauga, Lake and Ashtabula Bar Associations
Endorsements
N/A
Bar Association Ratings
N/A

Cynthia Westcott RICE

Question 1

List your judicial experience (courts and years)

Court of Appeals Judge, 2003-Present

Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice was elected to the Eleventh District Court of Appeals in November 2002. The court hears appeals from decisions of the trial courts in Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Portage, and Trumbull Counties. Over the past 20 years, Judge Rice has written over 1,500 appellate opinions and decided more than 4,000 appeals. She has had the opportunity to be a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court and the Second, Seventh and Ninth District Court of Appeals. She serves on the Ohio Judicial Conference’s Executive Committee and is co- chair of the Criminal Law and Procedure Committee.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

Over the past 20 years, Judge Rice has written over 1,500 appellate opinions and decided more than 4,000 appeals. She has had the opportunity to be a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court and the Second, Seventh and Ninth District Court of Appeals. She serves on the Ohio Judicial Conference’s Executive Committee and is co- chair of the Criminal Law and Procedure Committee.

Question 2

What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?

Over 10 years as a state and federal criminal prosecutor

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

Over 10 years as a state and federal criminal prosecutor

Question 3

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

The trial courts are on the frontline dealing with the consequences of our communities’ woes, whether it is the foreclosure crisis, increased crime or the opioid epidemic. I would like to apply my experience as a judge and criminal prosecutor to do all I can to assure the safety of Trumbull county’s citizens and access to fair and efficient courts.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers