Joan Synenberg

Candidate Details

• Residence
  Bratenahl
• Email
  rsynenberg@aol.com
• Social Media
  
• Age
  66
• Occupation
  Judge
• Education
  

  Cleveland-Marshal College of Law, Cleveland State University, J.D. 1988.

  Cleveland State University, B.A., 1983.

  Mayfield High School, 1975.

• Work Experience
  

  I interrupted my college education for a year to tour internationally with Up With People. I was a social worker in the County Jail for three years before and during law school. After graduating from law school I opened my own law office and represented individuals criminally and civilly for sixteen years before assuming the bench.

• Family
  Married
• Affiliations
  

  Professional Involvement:

  ·       ADAMHS Board, Mental Health Response Advisory Executive Committee, 2015-2020;

  ·       American Inns of Court Board of Trustees, Elected Sixth Circuit Trustee, 2012-2016;

  ·       Cleveland Marshall College of Law Alumni Association, Board of Trustees, 2010-Present;

  ·       Cleveland Marshall College of Law Visiting Committee, Former Member;

  ·       Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Guest Lecturer;

  ·       Case Western Reserve School of Law School, Guest Lecturer;

  ·       Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Board of Trustees, 2012-2015; 2021- present.

  ·       Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Board of Trustees Nominating Committee, Chair; 2016.

  ·       Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation Fellow, 2011-Present;

  ·       Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Probation Committee, 2010-Present;

  ·       Eighth District of Ohio Judicial Conference, Executive Committee, 2009, 2010;

  ·       Expungement Education Forums, Community Forums, Instructed Expungement CLEs, 2005-Present;

  ·       FBI Citizens Academy, Life Member;

  ·       Fugitive Safe Surrender, Steering Committee, Social Services Subcommittee Chair, 2010;

  ·       Judge Nancy R. McDonnel Community Based Correctional Facility, Judicial Advisory Board, 2011-Present;

  ·       Juvenile Fugitive Safe Surrender, Steering Committee, 2014;

  ·       Ohio State Bar Association, Judicial Advisory Council, 2010-2013;

  ·       Pro Bono initiatives (partners: CMBA, Legal Aid);

  ·       Supreme Court of Ohio, Commission on Continuing Legal Education, 2012-present;

  ·       U.S. Attorney's Opiate/Heroin Task Force, 2014-Present;

  ·       William K. Thomas Inn of Court, Member, 2009-Present, President, 2011-2012;

  Civic Involvement:

  ·       AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland, Board Member (2005-2012);

  ·       Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, Board Member, 2015-2020;

  ·       Collaborative for a Safe, Just and Fair Cleveland;

  ·       Community Re-Entry, Volunteer;

  ·       Hosted numerous interns, externs, law students, mock trials, shadow students, senior project students, high school classes throughout Cuyahoga County and Ohio Supreme Court mentees;

  ·       Leadership Cleveland, Class of 2007;

  ·       Listening Tour Facilitator, 2017 – 2020;

  ·       Northeast Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Board Member, 2005-present:

  ·       Ohio Supreme Court Mentoring Program, 2014, 2016;

  ·       Transitional Housing, Volunteer;

  ·       Teamsters Annual Conference, Speaker;

  ·       U.S. Attorney's Project Safe Neighborhood/S.T.A.N.C.E, Member; Subcommittee on Gun Violence;

  ·       Violence Against Women Coalition;

  ·       Women's Pre-Release Center, Volunteer;

  ·       Women's Re-Entry Resource Network, Volunteer;

• Endorsements
  

  Cleveland Plain Dealer

  Cleveland Building & Trade Construction Trades Council

  Cleveland Port Council, AFL-CIO

  Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association

  Building Laborers’ Union, Local 310

  Pipefitters Local 120

  Plumbers UA Local 55

  Teamsters Local 407

  Teamsters Local 416

  Ironworker’s Local 17

  International Longshoremen’s Association

• Bar Association Ratings
  

  Between 2005 to 2022, I ran for office six times and was evaluated 22 times by the associations affiliated with the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's judge4yourself.com. I was rated "EXCELLENT" 22 times without receiving any lower rankings. 

  2024 judge4yourself ratings:

  • Asian American Bar Association of Ohio – “EXCELLENT”
  • Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association – “EXCELLENT”
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association – “EXCELLENT”
  • Norman S. Minor Bar Association – “EXCELLENT”
  • Ohio Women’s Bar Association – “EXCELLENT”