Virginia Tallent Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas General Division

Candidate Details

Residence
Cincinnati
Email
virginia@tallentforjudge.com
Website
tallentforjudge.com
Social Media
facebook.com/tallentforjudge
instagram.com/VirginiaTallentforJudge
Age
39
Occupation
Assistant City Manager, City of Cincinnati, Ohio
Education
University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D., Cum Laude (2009)
University of Missouri – Columbia, B.A., Political Science, Summa Cum Laude (2005)
Bar Admissions: State of Ohio (2009), U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (2010)
Work Experience
I have accumulated extensive experience in public service and legal advocacy through various roles within the City of Cincinnati and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati across 15 years of practice.

At the City of Cincinnati, I currently serve as Assistant City Manager, where I oversee city operations and initiatives addressing critical issues such as crime and gun violence reduction, human services, transportation & engineering, the 911/311 Call Center, and environmental sustainability. Notably, I have played a key role in the creation and implementation of innovative programs, including the City’s financial freedom blueprint and the Access to Counsel Program (eviction prevention), aimed at improving the lives of city residents.

Prior to my role as Assistant City Manager, I served as the City of Cincinnati’s Human Services Director, where I re-designed the city's delivery of human services, implemented an alternate response to policing pilot, and revised the city's homeless encampment response model.

Before joining the Office of the City Manager, I worked in the City of Cincinnati's Law Department as a Senior Assistant City Solicitor in the Quality-of Life-Division of the law department. In this capacity, I represented the city in legal matters related to building and health code enforcement in state and federal court, fought against nuisance and blight conditions, and pursued legal action against slum lords to protect city residents and to preserve affordable housing.

Prior to joining the City of Cincinnati, I had a long tenure at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, where I served as a Senior Supervising Attorney. In this role, I provided strategic legal representation to clients facing health, education, and housing crises, developed innovative legal strategies in partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and other community partners to address social determinants of health, and successfully litigated cases in state and federal courts to protect the rights of low-income individuals and families.

Overall, my diverse work experience has equipped me with the skills, knowledge, and dedication necessary to serve effectively as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas in Hamilton County, Ohio. I am committed to upholding the principles of fairness, justice, and the rule of law in all aspects of my work on the bench.
Family
Married with two children.
Affiliations
Bar Admissions: State of Ohio (2009), U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (2010)

Cincinnati Bar Association – Member

St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church - Member

ICMA High Performance Leadership Master Certificate (2023); ICMA Member (2021-present)

Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers, Graduate (Class of 2019)

Welcome House of Northern Kentucky, Member, Board of Directors (2016 – 2020)

Community Based Mentor, Covington City Schools (2007 – 2018)

Queen City Running Club, Member (2011 – present)
Endorsements
Hamilton County Democratic Party Endorsement

I am presently endorsed by the Hamilton County Democratic Party. I will also be seeking endorsement in 2024 from many other organizations including but not limited to: AFL-CIO, Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, Cincinnati Women’s Political Caucus, United Food & Commercial Worker’s Local 75, Greater Cincinnati Building and Construction Trades Council, IAFF Local 48, FOP Local 69, Sentinel Police Association, ATU Local 627, Laborers Local 265, SEIU, Local 1199, and AFSCME Local 8.

Virginia Tallent

Question 1

List your judicial experience (courts and years)

I am a first time candidate for judicial office.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

First time candidate for judicial office.

Question 2

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

I am a career long public servant with a track record of centering the needs of community first. The common thread through my work is a passion for achieving solutions to complex social problems; and systems-change work, driven by collaboration with others. I am a fair, reasonable, and results oriented leader.

In my current role as Assistant City Manager for the City of Cincinnati, I work closely with City residents, and community stakeholders on complex issues and problems – including racial justice, gun violence reduction, and homelessness prevention. I manage high-level operations and strategy for the City’s Human Services work – including management of the 911- Emergency Communications Center, Department of Transportation & Engineering, Office of Human Services, and the Office of Environment & Sustainability. I also support the City Manager with the operations of the City’s Police and Fire Departments.

I have years of experience supporting our community’s most vulnerable and underrepresented constituents. First as a legal aid lawyer, defending low-income tenants from eviction, and fighting for the rights of disabled children in education law matters. And later, as an attorney for the City of Cincinnati working to eliminate nuisance and blight in our community. My practice included representation in state and federal courts. I also previously served as the City of Cincinnati’s Director of Human Services.

I have a Juris Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati College of Law (Cum Laude), and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia (Summa Cum Laude). I have been licensed to practice law in Ohio since 2009, and in the U.S. Southern District of Ohio since 2010.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

With over 15 years of diverse experience in public service, litigation, administration, and community leadership, I am well-prepared to serve as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas. My background includes extensive work as a litigator, administrator, and community leader, providing me with the skills and knowledge needed to fulfill the responsibilities of this role effectively. I am committed to upholding the principles of fairness, integrity, and justice if elected to serve the community on the bench.

Question 3

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I am running for this particular court seat because of my lifelong commitment to serving the community and addressing complex social issues. The Court of Common Pleas is critically important as it serves as a trial court with general jurisdiction. As the primary trial court in the county, the Court of Common Pleas plays a vital role in administering justice, resolving disputes, protecting rights, and upholding the rule of law within our community. It ensures that individuals have access to fair and impartial hearings, facilitates the resolution of legal conflicts, and safeguards the rights of all parties involved. Additionally, the decisions made in the Court of Common Pleas can have significant and lasting impacts on individuals, families, businesses, and the overall well-being of our society. It is essential to have fair, efficient, and dedicated judges presiding over this court to ensure justice is served effectively and equitably for all residents of Hamilton County.

With my background in public service, litigation, advocacy, and management, I will bring a unique perspective to the bench. Legal Aid lawyers rarely seek judicial office in Ohio's courts - and equal access to our courthouse is a critical issue here in Hamilton County, Ohio. My broad experience in issues such as racial justice, gun violence reduction, public safety, and homelessness prevention, combined with my understanding of Ohio law and systems-change work, positions me to be an effective, insightful, and fair judge in Hamilton County. I am dedicated to achieving meaningful results for all members of our community, regardless of their background.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

I am running for the Court of Common Pleas- General Division because of my lifelong commitment to serving the community and addressing complex social issues. The Court of Common Pleas is critically important as it serves as a trial court with general jurisdiction. As the primary trial court in the county, the Court of Common Pleas plays a vital role in administering justice, resolving disputes, protecting rights, and upholding the rule of law within our community. It ensures that individuals have access to fair and impartial hearings, facilitates the resolution of legal conflicts, and safeguards the rights of all parties involved. Additionally, the decisions made in the Court of Common Pleas can have significant and lasting impacts on individuals, families, businesses, and the overall well-being of our community here in Hamilton County. With my background in public service, legal advocacy, and management, I will bring a unique and helpful perspective to the bench. My broad experience in issues such as racial justice, gun violence reduction, and homelessness prevention, combined with my understanding of Ohio law and systems, positions me to be an effective judge in Hamilton County. I am dedicated to fairness, collaboration, and achieving meaningful results for all members of our community.