Timothy W Clary
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Unexpired Term Ending Dec. 31, 2026
Candidate Details
- Residence
Cleveland - Email
keepjudgeclary@gmail.com - Social Media
instagram.com/judgeclary - Age
40 - Occupation
Judge - Education
St Ignatius High School, (2002)
B.A., John Carroll University, (2006)
J.D., Cleveland State University College of Law, (2011)
- Work Experience
Judge, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court (2024 - present)
Assistant Public Defender, Cuyahoga County Office of the Public Defender (2023-2024)
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office (2014-2022)
Associate Attorney, Law Offices of Climaco, Wilcox, Peca, Tarantino & Garofoli Co. (2011-2014)
- Family
Family - Affiliations
Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America (1984-present)
Licensed Merit Badge Counselor, Boy Scouts of America (2024 - present)
Parishioner, Church of the Gesu (2015 - present)
Member, Greater Cleveland Transit Civilian Oversight Committee (2023)
- Endorsements
Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association (“CPPA”)
FOP of Ohio, Eighth District
Cleveland Plain Dealer/cleveland.com
Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization (C.A.M.E.O.)
Latinx N.E.O. Fund
- Bar Association Ratings
EXCELLENT, Asian American Bar Association of Ohio
EXCELLENT, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
EXCELLENT, Norman S. Minor Bar Association
GOOD, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association
EXCELLENT, Ohio Women's Bar Association
EXCELLENT, Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association
Timothy W Clary
Question 1
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Judge, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, (2024 - present)
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersJudge, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court (2024 - present)
Question 2
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
As a lifelong trial attorney prior to taking the bench, most of my experience is in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. I started my law career in civil litigation, with my late mentor John R. Climaco, handling important matters for individuals, labor and law enforcement groups and businesses.
I then moved to the criminal field, as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Cuyahoga County. It was there that I prosecuted felony crimes and child support enforcement for nine years before moving to the Office of the Public Defender.
As an Assistant Public Defender, I represented individuals charged with a crime, who needed someone to explain the process and protect their rights. This was a different role than when I served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and taught me much about the importance of the presumption of innocence in our criminal justice system.
I am the only candidate who has this level of vast and significant civil and criminal experience.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersAs a lifelong trial attorney prior to taking the bench, most of my experience is in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. I started my law career in civil litigation, with my late mentor John R. Climaco, handling important matters for individuals, labor and law enforcement groups, and businesses.
I then moved to the criminal field, as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Cuyahoga County. It was there that I prosecuted felony crimes and child support enforcement for nine years before moving to the Office of the Public Defender.
As an Assistant Public Defender, I represented individuals charged with a crime, who needed someone to explain the process and protect their rights. This was a different role than when I served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and taught me much about the importance of the presumption of innocence in our criminal justice system.
I am the only candidate who has this level of vast and significant civil and criminal experience.
Question 3
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am honored to serve now as Judge in this Cuyahoga County Common Pleas seat, and I am running to keep this position.
My experience as a trial attorney for more than a decade in this courthouse is significant and unmatched by my opponents. As the judge, I work to apply the law and make tough decisions every day in weighty criminal and civil matters.
On the criminal side, I hold individuals accountable for their conduct and still find alternatives to incarceration where it's appropriate. For those individuals who are permitted to remain in the community, I work with community partners to use sentencing tools that take advantage of community resources, such as drug and mental health treatment, educational services, correctional facilities and other life skills that are here to provide stability and make our community safe.
On the civil side, I use collaborative, service-oriented leadership to manage complicated legal issues. I pay attention to the parties involved and to the details of the case, and work to timely rule on pending motions to avoid lengthy delays.
Most importantly, I have the strength of character, the judicial temperament and an unparalleled work ethic to learn every day about constructive solutions to the legal problems that present in my courtroom.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersI am honored to serve now as Judge in this Cuyahoga County Common Pleas seat, and I am running to keep this position.
My experience as a trial attorney for more than a decade in this courthouse is significant and unmatched by my opponents. As the judge, I work to apply the law and make tough decisions every day in weighty criminal and civil matters.
On the criminal side, I hold individuals accountable for their conduct and still find alternatives to incarceration where it's appropriate. For those individuals who are permitted to remain in the community, I work with community partners to use sentencing tools that take advantage of community resources, such as drug and mental health treatment, educational services, correctional facilities and other life skills that are here to provide stability and make our community safe.
On the civil side, I use collaborative, service-oriented leadership to manage complicated legal issues. I pay attention to the parties involved and to the details of the case, and work to timely rule on pending motions to avoid lengthy delays.
Most importantly, I have the strength of character, the judicial temperament and an unparalleled work ethic to learn every day about constructive solutions to the legal problems that present in my courtroom.