Judge John J. Russo Chairs Ohio Judicial Conference
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John J. Russo has been sworn-in for a two-year term, beginning October 1, as Chair of the Ohio Judicial Conference (OJC). The OJC is a statutory agency within the judicial branch of Ohio government, charged with the responsibility to engage all of the state’s 722 judges. Judge Russo will help lead the work of committees that are active in areas of judicial ethics, public confidence, and community outreach.
“The voices of judges should be taken into consideration when it comes to policy and progress,” says Judge Russo. “We have to be collaborative with legislative issues that affect the justice system and how judges manage their dockets and cases.”
Judge Russo is one of 34 judges in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court’s General Division. His docket includes criminal cases of all felony levels, civil cases, foreclosures, as well as overseeing a commercial docket.
Judge Russo has spent much of his nearly 20 years on the Bench in leadership positions. He served six years as Common Pleas Administrative and Presiding Judge in Cuyahoga County. He served as president of the National Association for Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers (NAPCO), a national organization of court chief judges and court executives, from 2015-2016. In 2019, he was elected to, and currently serves as, NAPCO’s Chair of the Board of Directors. Judge Russo recently completed his one-year term as president of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) where he has been actively involved during his time as an attorney and judge. He has taught at numerous court conclaves, judges’ conferences, community programs, and CMBA continuing legal educations programs.
In addition, Judge Russo has chaired or participated in numerous justice system boards and committees. Some include: Co-Chair of the Court Administration Committee of the Ohio Judicial Conference; Cleveland State University Law Alumni Association, where in 2018 he was inducted into CSU/Law Hall of Fame and in 2019 was CSU College of Law Alumni of the year; Member of the Public Health, Death Penalty and Bail Bond Reform Task Force (all appointed by the Ohio Chief Justice); Past President and Man of The Year recipient of the Legal Eagles St. Edward High School.
“I believe it’s the responsibility of our elected judges to be leaders in the community and the judicial branch,” adds Judge Russo. “Progress is made when we all work together.”
Judge Russo is also a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, Westshore Bar Association, and Cleveland State University College of Law Alumni Association. Prior to being elected to the bench, Judge Russo was a civil and criminal litigator in his private practice for 12 years. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at John Carroll University, he received his Juris Doctor degree at CSU College of Law, where he currently serves as an Adjunct Professor.
