Biography

Employment

  • Lake County Common Pleas Court, General Division, judge 2001-present (elected)
    • Presiding Judge of the court 2009
    • Administrative Judge of the court 2002, 2006, 2010
    • Technology Chair 2003-present
    • Court House Security Chair 2003-present
  • Lecturer on public confidence in the judiciary, the courts and media, and court security
    • Practicing trial attorney 1980-2000
  • McNamara, Lucci, Hanrahan & Loxterman, Founding & Senior Partner 1983-2000
    • Municipal Court (Painesville & Mentor) acting judge 1988-2000
    • Lake County Sheriff’s Office special detective 1994-2000
    • Painesville City Police Department police officer 1977-1982
    • University Circle Police Department police officer 1975-1977
    • Lakeland Community College instructor 1983-1998, 2008-present
    • Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy certified instructor 1983-present
    • Mentor Police Department certified instructor 1988-1989

Licenses & Certifications

  • Attorney & Counselor at Law, State of Ohio 1980
  • Attorney & Counselor at Law, State of Florida 1982
  • Admitted, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio 1981
  • Admitted, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit 1985
  • Admitted, U.S. Supreme Court 1986
  • Ohio Peace Officer Basic Police Academy Certifications 1976, 1995
  • Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy Instructor No. BAS 04955 (Special, Legal Subjects), 1983
  • Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource (ASTAR) inaugural fellow, 2006

Education

  • Advanced Science & Technology Adjudication Resource certification by ASTA Board, Washington DC 2006
  • Master of Judicial Studies degree candidate, University of Nevada, Reno 2011
  • Certificate in Judicial Development, General Jurisdiction Trial Skills, National Judicial College 2004
  • Juris Doctor degree, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law 1980
  • Bachelor of Arts degree, Case Western Reserve University 1976 (December 1975)
  • Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown, Ohio 1972

Professional Memberships

  • American Bar Association member 1981-present
  • American Judges Association member 2001-present
  • American Judicature Society member 2001-present, published in its national magazine, Judicature
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America member 1981-2000; Judicial Fellow 2001-2006
  • Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association member 1995-2000
  • Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys member 1998-2000
  • Federal Bar Association member 1985-present
  • The Federalist Society member 2002-present
  • The Florida Bar member 1982-present
  • Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 90 member 1977-1982
  • The Justinian Forum 2001-present
  • Lake County Association of Chiefs of Police associate member 1999-2000; honorary member 2001-2006
  • Lake County Bar Association member 1980-present
    • President 1989-1990
    • Vice President 1988-1989
    • Treasurer 1987-1988
    • Secretary 1986-1987
    • Trustee 1997-2000
    • Certified Grievance Committee member 1990-2001; chairman 1999-2001
    • Continuing Legal Education Committee chairman 1984-1986
    • Judicial Selection & Endorsement Committee chairman 1993-1999
    • Medical-Legal Committee chairman 1999-2000
    • Nominations Committee chairman 1996, member 1991-1996
    • Law Explorer Post coordinator 1999-2001
  • Lake Erie College Legal Studies Advisory Committee member & chairman 1991-present
  • Lakeland Community College
    • Corrections Advisory Board member 2001-present
    • Paralegal Advisory Board member 1989-1997
  • Local Corrections Board of Lake County member 2001-present
  • Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program (N.E.O.C.A.P.) community based correctional facility
    • Judicial Board member 2001, 2002, 2004-2006
    • Judicial Advisory Board member 2006
  • Northern Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association member 1975-1978
  • Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers member 1981-2000
  • Ohio Identification Officers Association member 1997-2000
  • Ohio Judicial Conference member 2001-present
    • Executive Committee member 2005-present
    • Ohio Jury Instructions Editorial Board member 2002-2007
    • Public Confidence & Community Outreach Committee chairman 2005-present, member since 2003
    • Mentoring Program for New Judges mentor 2002-present
  • Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association member 2001-present
  • Ohio State Bar Association member 1980-present
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution mediator/arbitrator 1992-2000
  • Ohio Supreme Court Task Force on the Unauthorized Practice of Law member 1990-1994

Community Activities

  • Americans of Italian Heritage member 1998-present
  • Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) legal advisor 1989-1991
  • Lake County Bluecoats, Inc. member 1995-present
  • Lake County Committee on Family Violence board member 1988-1990
  • Lake County General Health District
    • AIDS Advisory Board (chairman 1990-1992) member 1986-2001
  • Leadership Lake County, Inc. Class of 1988; member 1987-present
    • Board of Trustees member1998-present
    • Chairman, Board of Trustees 2002-2004
    • First vice-chair, Board of Trustees 2000-2002
    • Second vice-chair, Board of Trustees 1998-2000
    • Alumni Association chairman 1997-1998
    • Northeastern Ohio Association of Regional Leadership Groups member 1999-present
  • Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce member 2000-2001
  • Ohio High School Mock Trial Program judge 1992-present; District Coordinator 2002-present
  • Parents Anonymous of Lake County board member & legal advisor 1983-1985
  • Rotary Club of Painesville, Ohio member 1982-present
    • President 1988-1989
    • Chair of all committees 1985-1990
    • Paul Harris Fellow
  • Specialized Environmental Living Facilities / Hogan Properties board member 1985-1993
  • United Way of Lake County, Campaign Cabinet member 1997-2000
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