Candidate for
Justice; Ohio State Supreme Court; 6 Year Term Starting 1/1/09

-Judge, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, General Div. - Cleveland, Ohio - 1/2001 - Present.

Originally elected over a two term Republican incumbent in November of 2000, and reelected without opposition in November of 2006. Currently Chairman of the Civil Rule Committee. As a Common Pleas Court Judge, I have adjudicated over 7,000 civil and felony criminal matters.

-Adjunct Professor, Case Western Reserve School of Law + Cleveland, Ohio + 1/2006 + Present.

Adjunct Professor of Law, currently teaching a four credit hour course in Trial Tactics.

-Principal: Law Offices of Joseph D. Russo Co., L.P.A. - Cleveland, Ohio - 10/92 - 1/2001.

Solo Practitioner specializing in Civil Litigation with emphasis in Employment Law, Corporate Law, Construction Law, Real Estate, Appellate Practice and Personal Injury Law with an average case load of eighty-five cases valued at 5 thousand to 2.5 million dollars. Completely familiar with EEOC, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, and Ohio Revised Code Section 4112.99 practice and procedures from both the Plaintiff and Defense perspectives. Reviewed and drafted, employment documents, including, but not limited to, employment applications, employment contracts, handbooks, and termination policies. Conducted private and public seminars dealing with discrimination and other employment issues. Sat first and second chair in trials before the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Practiced before the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Eighth District Court of Appeals, and the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Also served as Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Bedford and Village of Highland Hills.

-Associate Attorney: Landskroner & Phillips Co., L.P.A. - Cleveland, Ohio - 3/91 - 10/92.

Staff attorney specializing in Civil Litigation. Had complete authority for hiring, firing and evaluation of associate attorneys, paralegals, and law clerks. Responsible for management of a case load of fifty-five clients from initial intake to final disposition with cases valued at $25,000 to 2.5 million dollars. Had Profit and Loss responsibility of 4.3 million dollar budget, and directly supervised a staff of twelve. Areas of specialization included: Personal Injury, Product Liability, Family Law, Railroad Law, Medical Malpractice, Corporate, and Appellate Law.

Organizations, Community Service and Volunteer Work:

-Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Committees:

-Chairman, Civil Rules Committee
-Security Committee
-Grand Jury Committee (Ad Hoc)
-Foreclosure Committee (Ad Hoc)

-Ohio Judicial Conference Committees:

-Judicial Ethics and Professionalism Committee
-Judicial Mentoring Committee

-Speaker:

-"Tactics and Litigation Techniques" - Cleveland Bar Association, Litigation Committee
-"Improving Your Credibility with the Court" - Cleveland Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section
-"A View from the Bench" - Benesch, Friedlander & Aronoff
-"Medical Malpractice Update" - Reminger & Reminger
-"A View from the Bench" - Reminger & Reminger
-"Exchanging Horizons" - Case Western Reserve University Turning Point Society
-"A Supreme Court Update" - Fraternal Order of Police, Cleveland Lodge No. 23
-"How to Prepare and Present an Effective Opening Statement" - Monticello Middle School
-"A View from the Bench" - Keynote Speaker, Meals on Wheels
-"The Role of the Judiciary" - Fairfax Elementary School
-"The Role of the Judiciary" - Noble Road Elementary School

-Judge, Case Western Reserve University, Mock Trial & Moot Court Competitions
-Judge, Cleveland State University, Mock Trial & Moot Court Competitions
-Judge, Cleveland Public Schools, Mock Trial Competion
-Judge, Landskroner Children's Foundation Opening Statement Competition

-Member, Court of Nisi Prius
-Member, Ohio State Bar Association.
-Member, Ohio Common Pleas Judge Association
-Member, Cleveland Bar Association Minority Judicial Externship Program Subcommittee
-Member, William K. Thomas Inn of Courts
-Member, Cleveland Heights Democratic Ward Club
-Member & Honorary Trustee, The Justinian Forum
-Member, Chagrin Falls Jaycees
-Member, Italian-American Brotherhood Club
-Northeast Ohio Handicap Chairman, The Golf Channel
-Former President, Board of Trustees, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Beta Eta Chapter 1985-90.
-Former Trustee, Cleveland Heights Democratic Ward Club
-Former Executive Committee Member, Cuyahoga County Democratic Party
-Former Member, Cleveland Bar Association

-Volunteer:

-Rape Crisis Center of Greater Cleveland
-Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital
-American Red Cross
-American Heart Association
-National Multiple Sclerosis Society
-March of Dimes
-Sts. Constantine and Helen Church