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Judge Oldfield returns to common pleas court
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: January 13, 2017
Judge Joy Malek Oldfield believes people who are facing charges deserve a fair process in front of an impartial and knowledgeable judge who treats them with respect.
It’s a philosophy she said she has adhered to since first taking the bench in 2011 as a magistrate in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas General Division.
Now after serving as a judge in Akron Municipal Court for almost five years, she has returned to the common pleas court. Judge Oldfield won the Nov. 8 election, where she faced Republican incumbent Judge Scot Stevenson.
He was appointed last year by Gov. John Kasich to fill the seat vacated by Judge Tom Parker, who resigned in March to become a magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Judge Stevenson and Akron Municipal Court Administrative/Presiding Judge Oldfield were vying to fill the remainder of Judge Parker’s unexpired term, which ends on April 30, 2021.
On Nov. 29, Judge Oldfield was sworn in by her former boss at the common pleas court now Summit County Probate Court Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer.
“I’m very excited to take on the new challenge,” said Judge Oldfield, who took the bench on Nov. 30. “It’s been several years since I have been a member of this court, but my entire practice as an attorney was here and I did serve in the general division for a year as a magistrate and judicial attorney so I am very familiar with the docket.
“When I was in municipal court, I saw a high volume of people each day because the cases take less time,” said Judge Oldfield. “In common pleas court the volume is not as great so there is more time for deliberation.”
Born and raised in Akron, Judge Oldfield received her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in criminology from John Carroll University. Afterwards she enrolled at The University of Akron School of Law.
“I did not always plan to be a lawyer. It was a last minute decision in college,” said Judge Oldfield.
It was during law school that she met her husband, Charlie Oldfield. The two live in Akron and have three daughters Amelia, 9, Alana, 7, and Anna, 2.
“I knew even then (in law school) that Joy would go on to do great things in her career,” said Charlie Oldfield, a visiting professor at The University of Akron School of Law. “Joy has always been very passionate about anything she pursued and confident that she would be successful.
“I am very proud of all her hard work,” said Charlie. “She loved municipal court and presiding over the drug court there and I am confident she has that same passion and desire to succeed in the common pleas court.”
Judge Oldfield began her career as an associate at Scanlon & Gearinger Co., where she focused on representing plaintiffs in civil litigation and appeals. In 2007 she joined attorneys John Hill and Kevin Hardman to form Hill Hardman Oldfield.
She was elected to the Akron Municipal Court in November 2011, taking the bench in January 2012 and becoming administrative/presiding judge in 2015.
“I really enjoyed being an attorney and representing clients,” said Judge Oldfield. “I did not plan to be a judge and I would not have run until I had a healthy appreciation for what goes on in the courthouse.”
Judge Stormer said Judge Oldfield’s time as her judicial attorney and magistrate gave her a firsthand look at life on the bench.
“Joy came to work for me (in common pleas court) to see if she wanted to run for judge,” said Judge Stormer. “She began as my judicial attorney and her work was exceptional.
“Because she was so fast and smart, I asked her to step in as a magistrate.
“She’s sort of a rock star in my opinion,” said Judge Stormer. “She has an amazing work ethic and is well respected by the legal community.”
During her time at the municipal court, Judge Oldfield worked with Akron officials to find a location to build a new courthouse. After the city-owned John Morley Health Center was identified she and Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan joined hands to get the city council to pass legislation to allow the S. Broadway Street health center to be demolished and the search for a construction manager to begin.
The current municipal court primarily operates out of the top three floors of the nine-story Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center located at 217 S. High St. In addition, the court’s probation department is located on the mezzanine floor and the building also houses the Clerk of Courts, the Akron Police Department and the Akron City Prosecutor’s Office.
Court officials expect to move into the new facility at the end of 2018.
Montrella Jackson, court administrator at Akron Municipal Court, said moving forward with a new courthouse was a major achievement since it had been on the agenda for decades.
“Judge Oldfield has an attitude that anything is possible,” said Jackson. “I believe that is how she was able to move this project forward.
“During her tenure at the court, she also made many recommendations that helped the court to operate more efficiently,” said Jackson. “She presided over more than 11,000 cases.”
Akron Municipal Court Judge Annalisa Stubbs Williams said Judge Oldfield is an “outstanding jurist, hard working and dedicated. Through her persistence we will be the beneficiaries of a new building for the Akron Municipal Court.
“I am positive that she will do an outstanding job on the common pleas court bench,” said Judge Williams. “She is very intelligent, knowledgeable about the law and compassionate. She will be missed at Akron Municipal Court.”
Akron Assistant Director of Law and Assistant City Prosecutor Marissa Pappas agrees.
She said Judge Oldfield knows how to deal with difficult people and issues with “integrity and grace.
“Even when she ruled against me I knew that she did so based on the appropriate law,” said Pappas, who came before Judge Oldfield many times while she was a municipal court judge. “I think she will do very well in the common pleas court.”
Marcus Lombardi, a public defender, said Judge Oldfield is “a very hard worker and did an excellent job running the drug court. She showed compassion for the people in the program.
“In motion hearings, Judge Oldfield was very objective and was not predisposed to either side,” he said.
Judge Oldfield said she is still settling into her new role in the common pleas court, but is excited that she will be presiding over the Turning Point Program, formerly known as the Summit County Felony Drug Court.
Since 2011 Judge Oldfield has served as an advisory committee member at Oriana House, which assists people seeking to recover from alcohol and drug addiction. In 2015, she became a member of the Summit County Opiate Task Force.
She is also involved in other community organizations, including being an advisory board member of the Akron Community Foundation Women’s Endowment Fund and a voluntary member of the Christ Child Society of Akron.
“I enjoy working with people in recovery and helping to turn things around,” said Judge Oldfield. “Right now I am trying to figure out where I can make the most difference.”
While she has only just begun, she said she does plan to run for re-election.
“I enjoy being a judge and I know I’m making a difference,” said Judge Oldfield. “If the recent weeks are any indication of what being a common pleas judge will be like, I will seek a full term.”