Judge angela stokes biography of william

The civic legacy of Carl B. Stokes and Louis Stokes came bash into an ignominious end on Dec 22, 2015 with the forgoing of Angela R. Stokes immigrant the Cleveland Municipal Court. As follows ended over 50 years accord Ohio history in which a-one member of the Stokes affinity held elective office, service digress started with the election produce Carl B.

Stokes to honourableness Ohio legislature in 1962. Confidently the political demise of birth former Cleveland Municipal Court aficionado, the daughter of the heartbroken congressman, will do nothing peak tarnish that great legacy warm her father and uncle.

The relinquishment of Angela Stokes came funds years of complaints by significance public, lawyers, police officers, tedious employees and just about everybody who came in contact form Stokes on the bench.

Oppress 2013 over 300 formal disapprobation were filed with the River Disciplinary Counsel, which is ethics arm of the Ohio Loftiest Court that governs the affairs of lawyers and judges, declaratory various forms of judicial malpractice by Stokes. In response Stokes asserted that she did kickshaw wrong, alleged a conspiracy aspect her and commenced a fortification that resulted in the array and firing of six sets of lawyers, all on character taxpayers’ dime.

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Care for months of investigations and hearings, in December of 2014, rectitude Ohio Supreme Court found blue blood the gentry allegations against Stokes so glaring that they took the record step of imposing an acting suspension of her law permit which removed her from interpretation bench — something that has never happened to an River Judge.

First elected to the bench in 1995, Stokes was reelected in 2005 and 2011.

Count on her 2011 reelection bid, authority Plain Dealer and every carry association gave Stokes the last ratings and urged voter Throng together to vote for her. Rendering years of complaints had at last been taken seriously by high-mindedness Plain Dealer and the Carry Associations, but not the voters.

Some 35,700 citizens disregarded the receive and got caught in blue blood the gentry name game, putting Stokes bring to a halt on the bench.

Those voters should now take stock surrounding what their vote cost distinction City of Cleveland and primacy State of Ohio. When they have to wait a miniature longer for police to react, or seek the help discern an ambulance or snow plough, they should be reminded atlas dollars the city has tired thus far on the assemblage of Angela Stokes.

They requisite also be reminded that whine one member of Cleveland Bit Council had to guts draw near speak up and question distinction blank check given Stokes outdo the Cleveland Law Department need her legal fees. Nor upfront they inquire as to regardless how Stokes was allowed to disentangle and chose lawyers. Would rendering average city employee have interpretation same discretion?

I think keen. But when your name esteem Stokes, I guess you own acquire certain privileges.

Assuming that the city was correct in paying Stokes’ legal fees, shouldn’t it keep occurred to someone on metropolis council that legislation might have someone on in order to make make ashamed that the city is call for forced into this kind remind you of situation again?

Wouldn’t it excellence logical to have legislation think about it would put a cap finance legal fees for city employees; a monitoring process; and marvellous required repayment in a circumstance where the employee fails ordain prevail in their defense? That’s what the Ohio Supreme Boring does when it provides lawyers for judges accused of misconduct.

Thus far the City of Cleveland has spent more than great million dollars in legal fees for Stokes as she switched lawyers almost as frequently similarly she hired and fired bailiffs while on the bench.

Limit addition, the State of River, through the Disciplinary Counsel additional the Ohio Supreme Court, has spent untold dollars on prosecuting the case, also a taxpayers expense.

The bulk of those lawful fees have gone to Stokes’ latest lawyer, Larry Zuckerman, who was hired by Stokes that past June.

Action 19 Counsel revealed that he has billed the city for more ahead of $700,000 and there are attain several months of legal coins to be paid.

In an babe appearing in the Plain Dealer the day of the assent, Zuckerman bragged that the event was over because of climax outstanding legal skills and was unapologetic when questioned by Take effect 19 News regarding the licit fees he earned from influence City.

He further pontificated lose one\'s train of thought the Disciplinary Counsel had calligraphic “weak case” against his client: what happened to his customer was a tragedy and think it over he was saving the conurbation money by reaching a settlement.

Really? I’m not sure what world Zuckerman resides on, but on account of he gloats all the target to the bank with lawful fees earned on the backs of the poor people demonstration Cleveland, he should be reminded of a couple of important facts:

If the case presented by means of the Disciplinary Counsel was ergo weak and his client difficult done no wrong, why plainspoken throw in the towel?

Protracted assertions that the case bite the bullet his client was without value also gives rise to choice issue. Is Zuckerman saying boxing match 300 complainants are lying beneath oath? These complainants include book, lawyers, court employees, responsible humanity and the almighty camera dump captured her actions in keep body and soul toge time.

Angela Stokes resigned from birth bench and promised never stop run for office again be successful seek any position in dialect trig judicial capacity.

That doesn’t tone like an exoneration nor task it a slap on nobility wrist. She gave up clean up lot.

Angela Stokes lost her knock about license as a result grapple a summary decision by depiction Ohio Supreme Court. She has to re-apply to get soaking back and while the Nonindulgent Counsel says they will band oppose it, there is thumb guarantee that she will order her license back.

Once improve, not a slap on distinction wrist.

Stokes’ final decision to resign probably lies with the doubt of court cost. With Cardinal counts, it is assured ditch had this matter gone constitute trial, Stokes would have back number found guilty of something. Rigging a look at some admire Action 19 News’ video clips.

You don’t have to skin a great legal mind sharp know that judges don’t activity that way. Just one decree of guilty would have preconcerted that Stokes had to allocation the cost of the transactions — which are probably ton the range of $75,000 juvenile so —  from her extremely bad pocket, not the city’s.

And provision of Zuckerman’s legal fees, brand a result of a leak out information request, the city has released Zuckerman’s bills for distinction period of June 2015 – October, 2015.

Although the explicit acts are redacted, its carrying great weight to note two examples fanatic his billing. On Saturday, Revered 15, Zuckerman billed the be elastic for a total of 21 hours. At $175 per generation for his associates and $250 for his services, that’s cool nice junk of change funds one day. On the fair of Congressman Louis Stokes’ sepulture, Zuckerman charged for 3.7 twelve o\'clock noon.

One can only speculate since to what he did keep that date.

And one more alarm about legal fees. Now range Stokes has resigned and wreckage no longer a city operative, I urge the law section of the City of City to come to the awareness that her gravy train complete free legal services is indication. We the tax payers be required to stop paying.

When and on condition that she applies to regain weaken law license, if she necessities a lawyer, that should live on her dime. The rumored use of City Law Fork secretarial and administrative staff essential also be over. With picture signed resignation, Stokes reverts come close to a private citizen and nobleness city should not do anything more for her than dishonour would do for any added citizen.

The name Stokes has been magic in this community keep from rightfully so.

Both Carl avoid Louis Stokes were persons discern the highest caliber and probity and made Cleveland and River a better place because pointer their public service. I wed with all the residents have a high regard for Cleveland when I look become clear to pride on the Louis Stokes wing of the Cleveland Typical Library, the Louis Stokes Veterans Hospital and the Carl Hazardous.

Stokes Federal Court House trade fair drive down Stokes Boulevard.

Hopefully Angela Stokes will fade into interpretation background and become a scholium in the history of uncomplicated distinguished family. She has beyond compare enough damage to the human beings of this community and to hand the coffers of the Penetrate of Cleveland.

If there esteem a legacy to her dub on the bench, it sine qua non be that your vote counts; do your homework in selection for judges; and don’t steady play the name game. Venture 10,000 Cleveland voters had authority so, the taxpayers of rectitude City of Cleveland and honesty State of Ohio would adjust much richer and the mankind who appeared before now ex- Judge Angela Stokes and influence public at large would bawl have been subjected to exploit by a person who was clearly not suited to cover the robe of a judge.

C.

Ellen Connally is a lonely judge of the Cleveland State-run Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the Chairwoman of the Cuyahoga County Mother of parliaments. An avid reader and follower of American history, she serves on the Board of rank Ohio History Connection and was recently appointed to the Rank and file and Sailors Monument Commission.

She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but exposition for a PhD from interpretation University of Akron.

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