Candidate Details
- Residence
rocky river - Email
KarenKellyKrausforJudge@gmail.com - Website
karenkellykrausforjudge.com - Social Media
facebook.com/KarenKellyKrausforjudge23 - Age
63 - Occupation
Magistrate at Rocky River Municipal Court - Education
Rocky River High School 1978
Miami University 1978- 1982, B.A. Political Science, B.S. Communication
Cleveland Marshall College of Law 1982-1985 J.D.
- Work Experience
Rocky River Municipal Court, Rocky River, Ohio. Magistrate since 2016, overseeing the Civil Dockets for both Judge Donna Congeni Fitzsimmons and Judge Brian F. Hagan. Duties includescheduling and conducting Civil and Small Claims Trials, Eviction Hearings and Pretrials, legal writing and research and docket maintenance. Serving as Criminal, Traffic and ArraignmentMagistrate for Judge Fitzsimmons since 2021, presiding over Pretrials, Trials and Hearings, Sentencings and Arraignments.
Sole Practitioner, since 1987 in a General Practice including Wills and Probate, Collection,Personal Injury and Municipal Criminal, Traffic and Civil Litigation.
Cuyahoga County Public Library, Fairview Park, Ohio, Adult Reference Services, Currentlyemployed part-time since January 2000 with responsibilities including reference, research andcomputer instruction and book discussions.
Grange Mutual Insurance, Cleveland, Ohio, Claims Attorney-Adjuster, January 1986 throughAugust 1987. Responsibilities included evaluating files and medical records and negotiatingsettlements with Plaintiff’s attorneys.
Hyland and Hyland Co., L.P.A., Law Clerk, June 1983 to November 1985
- Family
I have been married for 38 years and have 3 adult children and 1 son-in-law. - Affiliations
I am a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Association of Magistrates and the West Shore Bar Association.
I have been involved in many community groups, clubs and associations over the years including: St. Christopher Church, Rocky River Public Library Foundation Trustee, The Junior League of Cleveland, Rocky River Junior Women, Fairview Hospital Auxiliary Board, Rocky River Schools PTA and Pre-school PTA, May Dugan Center, Beaconsfield Boulevard Association Trustee, West Side Plungers Investment Club and Paramount Westlake Tennis Club.
- Endorsements
Endorsed by The Cleveland Plain Dealer/ Cleveland.com
Endorsed by the Northeast Ohio UAW Community Action Program
- Bar Association Ratings
Rated Excellent by Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, The Ohio Women's Bar Association and the Asian American Bar Association of Ohio
Karen M. Kelly Kraus
Question 1
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Rocky River Municipal Court Magistrate - 2016 to present.
I serve as the Civil Magistrate for both judges at the Court which entails hearing Eviction, Small Claims and Civil actions. I serve also as a Criminal, Traffic and Arraignment Magistrate for Judge Donna Congeni Fitzsimmons, which means I have presided over every type of case there is at the Court during my tenure.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersRocky River Municipal Court Magistrate - 2016 to present.
I serve as the Civil Magistrate for both judges at the Court which entails hearing Eviction, Small Claims and Civil actions. I serve also as a Criminal, Traffic and Arraignment Magistrate for Judge Donna Congeni Fitzsimmons, which means I have presided over every type of case there is at the Court during my tenure.
Question 2
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
In addition to being an attorney for 37 years I have worked in public service for the past 22 years both at the Rocky River Municipal Court and the Cuyahoga County Public Library, Fairview Park Branch. Working at two different agencies has given me a depth of understanding of the issues faced by defendants in court. In the library setting I see people dealing with many financial and mental difficulties who need to use the library for the most basic things such internet access, shelter and safe space. Serving as a magistrate for 7 years at the court to which I am seeking office has given me considerable experience and understanding of the court and the community. Prior to working in the public service sector, I also made connections through volunteer work.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersIn addition to being an attorney for 37 years I have worked in public service for the past 22 years both at the Rocky River Municipal Court and the Cuyahoga County Public Library, Fairview Park Branch. Working at two different agencies has given me a depth of understanding of the issues faced by defendants in court. In the library setting I see people dealing with many financial and mental difficulties who need to use the library for the most basic things such internet access, shelter and safe space. Serving as a magistrate for 7 years at the court to which I am seeking office has given me considerable experience and understanding of the court and the community. Prior to working in the public service sector, I also made connections through volunteer work.
Question 3
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
Serving as a magistrate at the Court for the past 7 years has inspired me to seek position of judge at the Rocky River Municipal Court. I love what I do and I have been so very fortunate to work for and with two excellent judges and I have learned by example. The Westshore Community, to which I have a lifelong connection, is very important to me and maintaining its safety and integrity is paramount. I strive to uphold the law to ensure the safety of the citizens and the community, while still seeing all who appear in front of me as a person with individual needs and background. I have a record of public service working both at the Court and at the Fairview Park branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library and wish to continue my public service to the Westshore community by being elected judge of the Rocky River Municipal Court. With my background and experience I would be the best fit for the role and could take it on with a seamless transition, creating the best possible Court for the people of this community. Rocky River Municipal Court is already well run but if elected I would like to increase accessibility to the court by making even more use of technology such as Zoom hearings, having a flexible docket times and further expanding mental health services for users of the Court.
Abbreviated Candidate AnswersServing as a magistrate at the Court for the past 7 years has inspired me to seek position of judge at the Rocky River Municipal Court. I love what I do and I have been so very fortunate to work for and with two excellent judges and I have learned by example. The Westshore Community, to which I have a lifelong connection, is very important to me and maintaining its safety and integrity is paramount. I strive to uphold the law to ensure the safety of the citizens and the community, while still seeing all who appear in front of me as a person with individual needs and background. I have a record of public service working both at the Court and at the Fairview Park branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library and wish to continue my public service to the Westshore community by being elected judge of the Rocky River Municipal Court. With my background and experience I would be the best fit for the role and could take it on with a seamless transition, creating the best possible Court for the people of this community. Rocky River Municipal Court is already well run but if elected I would like to increase accessibility to the court by making even more use of technology such as Zoom hearings, having a flexible docket times and further expanding mental health services for users of the Court.