Judge John J Russo
For Judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division
Full Term Beginning 1/9/2023
*Top Vote-Getter in General Election
Candidate Details
- Residence
Cleveland - Email
cpjr1@cuyahogacounty.us - Social Media
- Age
57 - Occupation
Judge - Education
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1992
2018 Inductee into CM/Law Hall of Fame2019 CMLAA Alumni of the Year
Trustee for the Alumni Association
Adjunct Professor
John Carroll University, B.S.B.A. 1987
St. Edward High School, 1983
Current faculty member
Past-president Legal Eagles
- Work Experience
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, Judge 2005-present
Felony Judge responsible for the fair, impartial and timely resolution of civil and criminal cases.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, Administrative and Presiding Judge 2014-2019
Responsible for appointing committees, coordinating the development of Court policies, and overseeing the administration and dockets of the General Division, the highest-level trial court in the state.Polito & Russo LLP, 1997 – 2004
General litigation practice in the areas of Criminal Law, Civil Contracting, and Domestic Relations.
Private Practice 1992 – 1997
- Family
Married with 3 Children - Affiliations
COURT/ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- Chair-Elect of the Ohio Judicial Conference and President in 2024
- Vice President of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Chair for the National Association for Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers (NAPCO)Board of Directors
- Presides over Veterans Treatment Court Docket
- Co-Chair of the of the Ohio Judicial Conference Court Administration Committee
- Trustee of the Cleveland Marshall Law Alumni Association
- Appointed by National Center for State Courts as Review Board and Committee Person for the Trends in State Court Publication
- Appointed by Chief Justice of Ohio to the Public Health Committee; Death Penalty Task Force; State Bail Bond Reform Task Force; and Board of Commissioners of the Clients Security Fund of Ohio
- Faculty Member, Ohio Judicial College
- Faculty Member, Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association
- Faculty Member, National Business Institute
- Faculty Member, Adjunct Professor at Cleveland Marshall College of Law and St. Edwards High School
- Past Chair of the Judicial Education Committee for the Ohio Judicial Conference
- Past Chair of the Cuyahoga County Securities Committee
- Past Committee Person for the Judicial Advisory Committee
- Past Chair of the Lawyer’s Fund For Client Protection, appointed by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice
- Past President of the National Association for Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers (NAPCO)
- Past President of the St. Edward Legal Eagles
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Ohio Judicial Conference
- Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Westshore Bar Association
- National Association for Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers (NAPCO)
- Cleveland Marshall College of Law Alumni Association
- Justinian Forum
- Italian Sons & Daughters of America
- John Manos Inns of Court
CIVIC AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
- CMBA: 3Rs Program with the Cleveland Municipal School District,
- Ohio Mock Trial State & Local Competition
- Actively involved in St. Raphael Parish and formerly at St. Bernadette Parish
- Endorsements
Not Applicable-None provided as I am unoppose.
- Bar Association Ratings
Not Applicable-None provided as I am unoppose.
Judge John J Russo
Question 1
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, Judge 2005-present
Felony Judge responsible for the fair, impartial and timely resolution of civil and criminal cases.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, Administrative and Presiding Judge 2014-2019
Responsible for appointing committees, coordinating the development of Court policies, and overseeing the administration and dockets of the General Division, the highest-level trial court in the state.
THE HONORABLE JOHN J. RUSSO was elected to the Court of Common Pleas of Ohio in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) in 2005, and is the Past Administrative and Presiding Judge (2014-2019). He has been part of numerous justice system boards and committees: Chair Elect (2022-2024) and Co-Chair of the Court Administration Committee of the Ohio Judicial Conference; President Elect of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association; Supreme Court appointed member of the Public Health, Death Penalty and Bail Bond Reform Task Force; Past-Chair of the Lawyers Fund for Client Protection.
Having served as president of the National Association for Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers (NAPCO) from 2015-2016, and, in 2019, he was elected to serve as NAPCO’s Chair of the Board of Directors, which he still holds today. In addition, he is an Adjunct Professor at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, Westshore Bar Association, and Cleveland Marshall Law Alumni Association, and is on the Review Board and Committee Person the for the Trends in State Court Publication (appointed by the National Center for State Courts).
Question 2
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
Polito & Russo LLP, 1997 – 2004
General litigation practice in the areas of Criminal Law, Civil Contracting, and Domestic Relations.
Private Practice 1992 – 1997
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersPolito & Russo LLP, 1997 – 2004
General litigation practice in the areas of Criminal Law, Civil Contracting, and Domestic Relations.
Private Practice 1992 – 1997
Question 3
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
Currently serving in this position for the last 18 years.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersCurrently have held this position as a Judge for the last 18 years.