Candidate Details
- Residence
Cleveland - Social Media
- Age
56 - Occupation
Judge, Eighth District Court of Appeals - Education
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, B.A. 1990
CSU College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio, J.D. 1993
Articles Editor, Cleveland State Law Review, 1993
- Work Experience
Judge, Eighth District Court of Appeals, 2019-present
Partner/Associate, Reminger, Co. LPA, 1993-2018
Office of the Attorney General of Ohio, Lee Fisher, Cleveland 5/1991-8/1991
- Family
Married with children - Affiliations
Ohio Judicial College, Instructor
Ohio Courts of Appeals Judges Association
Eighth District Judicial Conference Board Member
Ohio Women's Bar Association Former President
Eighth District Court of Appeals, Policy and Procedure Committee Co-Chair
Cleveland State University College of Law Alumni Association Honorary Trustee
Cuyahoga County Democratic Women's Caucas Member
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Member
St. Christopher Church Lector
I also frequently participate in presentations in the community and teach educational seminars. In addition, I started an internship program for law students, college students and high school students to further give back to the next generation and strive to expose as many students as possible to a potential career in law. I have hosted/mentored almost 100 students to date.
Michelle J. Sheehan
Question 1
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge, 2019-present
Ohio Supreme Court Visiting Judge by Assignment, 2020
Question 2
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
By way of background, I am one of the first in my family to graduate college and the first to become an attorney. I worked multiple jobs and paid for my education and bring the same strong work ethic to the bench.
Prior to being elected, I maintained a broad legal practice encompassing various practice groups, primarily involving litigation for over 25 years. I represented clients in state and federal court in both civil and criminal matters. I tried cases and handled almost every aspect of the litigation and appellate process. I was certified as an Appellate Specialist by the Ohio State Bar Association from 2012 until 2022 when my certification expired because I was serving as an appellate judge. I handled appellate cases in the Ohio Supreme Court, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and almost every appellate court in the State of Ohio.
I was admitted to the following courts prior to being elected:
Supreme Court of Ohio Bar, 1993
Supreme Court of Florida Bar, 1994
U.S. Supreme Court, 2008
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2000
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1994
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2012
Former Certified Appellate Specialist by the OSBA, 2012-2022
Question 3
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I seek to retain my seat and continue providing the highest level of service to the community in all appellate matters. Because the Ohio Supreme Court only accepts a small percentage of cases, the court of appeals is often the last opportunity for a party to have their case reviewed to make sure the law was properly applied. I personally review and extensively analyze every matter in accordance with the law. I strive to work with my colleagues to provide timely resolution of legal issues to the people and families that pursue appeals in Cuyahoga County. I seek to continue to promote justice fairly and equally for everyone in our community.