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Judge Giulitto elected to Ohio Judicial Conference
TRACEY BLAIR
Legal News Reporter
Published: October 14, 2016
Since taking the bench in 2011, Portage County Domestic Relations Court Judge Paula C. Giulitto has undertaken a variety of new programs to help people get better access to courts and attorneys.
Now, she’s hoping to help launch similar efforts statewide as the new second vice chair for the Ohio Judicial Conference.
Giulitto was one of six judges recently elected to a two-year term as an officer of the conference, which promotes fair and effective administration of justice throughout the state.
“I’m very honored,” she said. “I look forward to the challenge ahead. It is vitally important for judges to work together with the legislative branch. Sometimes when you look at a law written 60 or 70 years ago, it’s no longer applicable.”
Judge Giulitto said her goals on the bench line up with those of the judicial conference.
“One of its missions is to take an affirmative interest and pride in promoting public confidence in the judiciary and the court system as a whole,” she said.
Judge Giullito’s accomplishments include starting the Portage County Bar Association Domestic Relations Clinic, in which attorneys donate four hours of their time once a month to provide free legal advice to qualifying county residents.
In addition, earlier this year she started a domestic relations court clinic at The University of Akron School of Law. At that clinic, low-income Portage County residents are helped by law students who have earned internship licenses from the Ohio Supreme Court.
“I want to help restore people’s faith in the system, in the lawyer and in the judiciary,” Judge Giulitto said.
As second vice chair, she also looks forward to coordinating educational opportunities for state judges at the annual conferences.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor called Judge Giulitto a welcome addition to the judicial conference.
“Judge Giulitto has made an impact on access to justice in her community through innovative efforts like creating a domestic relations clinic where law school students provide free legal help to low-income clients,” Chief Justice O’Connor said in an email.
The other five new elected officers are:
• Clermont County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge James A. Shriver, chair
• Twelfth District Court of Appeals Judge Stephen W. Powell, chair elect
• Fairfield Municipal Court Judge Joyce A. Campbell, first vice chair
• Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge John M. Durkin, immediate past chair
• Justice O’Connor, honorary chair