Matt Kreitzer Stark County Court of Common Pleas Family Court Division

Candidate Details

Residence
Canton
Email
kreitzerforfamilycourtjudge@gmail.com
Website
kreitzerforfamilycourtjudge.com
Social Media
facebook.com/kreitzerforfamilycourtjudge
Age
51
Occupation
Chief Magistrate, Stark County Family Court
Education
Juris Doctorate - 2004

•          University of Akron, School of Law, Akron, Ohio.

B.A.: Criminal Justice Studies / Minor: Paralegal - 1998

•          Kent State University, Kent, Ohio - Member of 1997 Gold Key Honor Society.

•          Multiple Dean's List Recipient.

•          Graduated Cum Laude
Work Experience
CHIEF MAGISTRATE

Stark County Family Court, Canton, Ohio, December 2020 - present

In addition to the duties of a Magistrate, provide supervision and guidance to assigned court departments and personnel, evaluate requests for expedited hearings, consider Ex Parte (non CPO) requests when Judges are unavailable, coordinate with schools and Prosecutors to support schools’ access to informal truancy case docket, create and manage the schedules for all magistrates to assure all hearings are covered, apprising all magistrates of procedure and/or statutory changes, and attend all administration/Judges weekly meetings to present on issues related the Magistrates.

MAGISTRATE

Stark County Family Court, Canton, Ohio, October 2014 – December 2020

Preside over various kinds of hearings, both oral argument and full trial. Issue interim orders and render final decision in the areas of divorce, dissolution, post-decree modifications, domestic violence civil protection orders, allocation of parental rights, child support, paternity, child protective cases (abuse, neglect, dependency), juvenile delinquency, juvenile offenses, and juvenile traffic. Provide overall regulation of the courtroom to provide access to the Family Court Judicial System.
Promote education of the public as to Family Court Services and assist with updating local rules and policy. Participate in specialized dockets and programs run by the court.

STAFF COUNSEL

Stark County Child Support Enforcement Agency, Canton, Ohio, June 2010 – October 2014

Represent the interest of the State of Ohio in matters of child support, including contempt actions, paternity actions, setting support amounts, issues of arrears, collection of spousal support, and in reviewing trusts to determine if the assets of the trust can be counted as available resources for Medicaid purposes. Provide legal advice and guidance to caseworkers and other CSEA staff.

STAFF COUNSEL

Stark County Public Defender Office, Canton, Ohio, Feb. 2007 – June 2010

Represent indigent defendants in criminal matters in Municipal court. Represent clients in the Stark County Family Court in cases involving delinquency actions, matters of contempt, and alleged dependency, neglect and abuse of their children. Responsible for own caseload, from arraignment through trial and appeal.

PRIVATE ATTORNEY

Matthew P. Kreitzer, Attorney at Law, Sebring, Ohio, November, 2004 – Feb, 2007

Handling of domestic relations, contract preparation, traffic offenses, probate, wills, property damage, personal injury, etc.
Family
Married with 4 children and three dogs.
Affiliations
Board of Directors, United Way of Greater Stark County

Ohio State Bar Association

Ohio Association of Magistrates

Stark County Bar Association

Stark County Bar Association Family Law Committee – Bench Chair

Stark County Bar Association Executive Committee

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

Ohio Child Support Advisory Council (2022-2023)

Stark County Community Corrections Planning Board

Arika’s Angels Board of Directors

Pro Football HOF Security & Logistics Committee

Pro Football HOF Grand Parade volunteer

35th Class of Leadership Stark County

Chair, United Way Nominating Committee
Endorsements
Votes for Women

Canton McKinley FOP Lodge #2

Alliance FOP Lodge #73
Bar Association Ratings
"HIGHLY RECOMMENDED" by the Stark County Bar Association

Matt Kreitzer

Question 1

List your judicial experience (courts and years)

Chief Magistrate – Stark County Family Court: 2020 - Present

Magistrate – Stark County Family Court: 2014 – 2020

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

Chief Magistrate – Stark County Family Court: 2020 - Present

Magistrate – Stark County Family Court: 2014 – 2020

Question 2

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

I practiced Domestic Relations and Juvenile law for 10 years before taking the bench as a Magistrate in the Stark County Family Court. I had a private practice from 2004 – 2007. I then began working in the Stark County Family Court as a Public Defender in 2007. I was representing juveniles charged with breaking the law, adults charged with contempt of court and contributing to the delinquency of minors, and parents who were having their children removed from their home due to allegations of dependency, neglect, and/or abuse. In 2010 I became an attorney with the Stark Co. Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). As a CSEA attorney in the Family Court, I established paternity and established and enforced child support orders. Through private practice and my capacity as a Public Defender and CSEA attorney, I have handled nearly every type of hearing and case that the Family Court decides. Topping that off with my actual judicial experience, and I have done every kind of case and every kind of hearing handled in the Family Court. And, volunteering in the community and serving on nonprofit boards has given me a perspective on the needs of our community.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

Question 3

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I genuinely love working for Family Court. Whether it was as an attorney, representing clients, or as a magistrate, hearing and deciding cases. Developing a legal career serving Stark County families has allowed me to grow into a fair, just, and empathetic hearing officer.

Like many of the families and children that come before the court, I have experienced the hardship of trauma, I grew up living in poverty, and my family struggling day to day to make ends meet. I have experienced a marriage end, and the need to put differences aside to best co-parent a child. I am in a second marriage and have a wonderful, blended family. And, while these experiences do not affect my judicial decisions, or how I apply the law to the facts of a case, they have helped me to develop a respect, empathy, and compassion for those who come before me.

Because a Family Court Judge has such incredible influence over the future of families, it is imperative that a judge possess a deep understanding of family law before calling his/her first case. Since becoming a Magistrate, I have handled over 12,000 cases in the Family Court. I have years of experience deciding cases for Family Court and have developed a reputation for being knowledgeable of the law.

A Family Court Judge must possess a fair, firm, and compassionate judicial temperament. The temperament of the judge, and the ability to mutually respect everyone, is critical to maintaining a fair approach to hearing cases, and ultimately, making decisions. I believe my personal and professional growth have afforded me with both family law knowledge and the proper judicial temperament necessary to be a judge in the Stark County Family Court.

I believe that the children and families of Stark County deserve to have the most qualified and experienced judge on the bench. I am the only candidate with family law experience, the only candidate with judicial experience, and the only candidate that has a full understanding of the court’s policies, procedures, programs, personnel, departments, funding, resources, and expenses. I will be prepared to take the bench and hear cases on day one, without the need to learn on the job. I humbly ask for your vote in November.

Abbreviated Candidate Answers

I have loved working in Family Court, as an attorney and as a magistrate. Developing a legal career serving Stark County families has allowed me to grow into a fair, just, and empathetic hearing officer.

Family Court Judges have incredible influence over the future of families, therefore a judge must possess a deep understanding of family law before calling thier first case. Since becoming a Magistrate, I have handled over 12,000 Family Court cases. I have years of experience deciding cases and have developed a reputation for being knowledgeable of the law.