Candidate Details
- Residence
Green - Email
steveelliottforjudge@gmail.com - Social Media
facebook.com/SElliottForJudge - Age
49 - Occupation
Chief Magistrate Summit County Probate Court - Education
BA in Sociology, Bowling Green State University 1992 - 1996, Specialty in Criminology
Juris Doctor University of Akron School of Law 2000 - 2003
- Work Experience
Chief Magistrate Summit County Probate Court January 2023 -Present
Magistrate Summit County Probate Court July 2021 -January 2023
Magistrate and Court Investigator Summit County Probate Court October 2018 -July 2021
Ohio Adult Parole Authority December 2016 - October 2018
Practicing Trial Attorney in Summit County 2000-2016
Central Intelligence Agency Federal Officer November 1998 - August 2000
Ohio Adult Parole Authority February 1997 - November 1998
- Family
Married with 3 children - Affiliations
Community Action Akron Summit Board Member
Oriana House Advisory Committee Member
Green Youth Basketball Association Board Member
Leadership Akron Signature Class 40
Trainer for Crisis Intervention Team training
Summit County Nursing Home Task Force Member
Crisis Intervention Team Member
Akron Bar Association Probate Section Board Member
Coach of Ohio Spikes Travel Baseball Organization, Stampede Travel Softball Organization
Prior coach for Green Youth Baseball and Softball Federation, for Green Youth Basketball Association and Green Youth Football Organization
Tallmadge United Methodist Church Staff Parish Relations Committee, Endowment Committee and Finance Committee, prior chair
Ohio State Bar Association Member
Ohio Association of Magistrates Member
Member of Harmony Springs Christian Church
- Endorsements
United Steelworkers Local 2L
Tri-County Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Tri-County Building & Construction Trades Council
Communication Workers of America Local 4302
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 219
Summit County Progressive Democrats. - Bar Association Ratings
Akron Bar Association in 2023 Rated "Good"
Steve S Elliott
Question 1
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
January 2023 to Present - Chief Magistrate Summit County Probate Court
October 2018 to January 2023 - Magistrate Summit County Probate Court
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersJanuary 2023 to Present - Chief Magistrate Summit County Probate Court
October 2018 to January 2023 - Magistrate Summit County Probate Court
Question 2
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
For 15 years as a practicing attorney, I appeared in criminal and civil matters in common pleas and municipal courts throughout Ohio, California, Missouri, Alabama, and Illinois. My civil litigation experience included commercial and real estate litigation. In addition to litigation, I also helped families in estate planning and probate law. In each type of case I guided clients through an often confusing process. As a “counselor/attorney”, I understand the importance of bringing the needs of clients to the case in a judicial role. My experience uniquely qualifies me to help those who appear before me as a judge.
Public safety is at the heart of judging in criminal cases. Sometimes, public safety means rehabilitation services, not just incarceration. My years of experience as a law enforcement officer led me to analyze and understand people in that context. At the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia, I oversaw security operations, interviewed people and conducted investigations into potential threats to the CIA and the United States, receiving the Exceptional Performance Award in January 2000 for superior accomplishment and valuable service to the CIA. I served twice as a Parole Officer for the Ohio Adult Parole Authority and left a successful practice of law with the motivation to help parolees successfully re-enter the community. These experiences give me a special perspective on the large percentage of those who appear in court.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersFor 15 years as a practicing attorney, I appeared in criminal and civil matters in common pleas and municipal courts throughout Ohio, California, Missouri, Alabama, and Illinois. My civil litigation experience included commercial and real estate litigation. In addition to litigation, I also helped families in estate planning and probate law. In each type of case I guided clients through an often confusing process. As a “counselor/attorney”, I understand the importance of bringing the needs of clients to the case in a judicial role. My experience uniquely qualifies me to help those who appear before me as a judge.
Public safety is at the heart of judging in criminal cases. Sometimes, public safety means rehabilitation services, not just incarceration. My years of experience as a law enforcement officer led me to analyze and understand people in that context. At the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia, I oversaw security operations, interviewed people and conducted investigations into potential threats to the CIA and the United States, receiving the Exceptional Performance Award in January 2000 for superior accomplishment and valuable service to the CIA. I served twice as a Parole Officer for the Ohio Adult Parole Authority and left a successful practice of law with the motivation to help parolees successfully re-enter the community. These experiences give me a special perspective on the large percentage of those who appear in court.
Question 3
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
Service to my community informs my entire professional career and personal life. As a judge, I can continue this service. I embrace the desire to protect my community from violent offenders but to also serve the defendants that appear in front of me. A judge has a unique opportunity to help defendants by looking deeper into the root cause of their behavior and utilizing community resources to provide the treatment or counseling they may need.
As a Magistrate in a “people’s court” dealing with the many facets of family issues, I can make fair and honest decisions. The mantra in Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer’s Probate Court is to help those in the court to solve problems. I look forward to bringing that to my own bench.
Lately, it appears that politics has seeped into our Judiciary. I reject that. As a judge, I want to ensure that our judicial system remains above politics and remains fair to all people regardless of political affiliation, race, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic status.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersService to my community informs my entire professional career and personal life. As a judge, I can continue this service. I embrace the desire to protect my community from violent offenders but to also serve the defendants that appear in front of me. A judge has a unique opportunity to help defendants by looking deeper into the root cause of their behavior and utilizing community resources to provide the treatment or counseling they may need.
As a Magistrate in a “people’s court” dealing with the many facets of family issues, I can make fair and honest decisions. The mantra in Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer’s Probate Court is to help those in the court to solve problems. I look forward to bringing that to my own bench.
Lately, it appears that politics has seeped into our Judiciary. I reject that. As a judge, I want to ensure that our judicial system remains above politics and remains fair to all people regardless of political affiliation, race, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic status.