Login | June 09, 2026
Akron Bar ratings on judicial candidates released
Published: October 4, 2011
The Akron Bar Association Commission on Judicial Candidates has been established by the Akron Bar Association to evaluate candidates for local judgeships.
The commission rates the candidates “Highly Recommended”, “Recommended”, “Acceptable”, or “Not Recommended.”
Ratings are based on seven criteria: integrity, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence, personal responsibility and public and community service.
All ratings require a majority vote of the commission; a rating of “Highly Recommended” requires two-thirds super majority of the commission. The ratings are not intended to be a comparison or endorsement of candidates, but represent the commission’s evaluation of each individual candidate’s qualifications for the specific office sought.
A rating of “Acceptable” requires a vote of a majority of the commission members present. If a candidate is rated “Acceptable”, a second ballot is taken to determine if the rating “Recommended” will be awarded, also requiring a vote of he majority of the commission members present.
If a candidate is rated “Recommended”, a third ballot is taken to determine if the rating “Highly Recommended” will be awarded. The “Highly Recommended” rating requires the affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the commission members present.
The commission is comprised of 28 experienced members of the Akron Bar Association selected by its municipal courts committee, common pleas and appellate courts committee, family law section, probate law section, the chair of the commission and the bar president. No more than 50 percent of the commission may be from any one political party. All candidates complete a questionnaire containing extensive biographical data and submit relevant materials, including writing samples. References for the candidates are interviewed and intensive interviews of the candidates are conducted.
This year the commission, chaired by William D. Dowling, evaluated the judicial candidates running in the election scheduled for Nov. 8, 2011.
The ratings are as follows: Akron Municipal Court Judge, term commencing Jan. 1, 2012: Candace Kim Knox–Acceptable; Annalisa S. Williams–Highly Recommended. Akron Municipal Court Judge, term commencing Jan. 2, 2012: Amy Corrigall Jones–Recommended, Kathryn Michael– Recommended; Akron Municipal Court Judge, term commencing Jan. 3, 2012: Tom McCarty–Highly Recommended, Joy Malek Oldfield–Recommended; Barberton Municipal Court Judge, Term Commencing Jan. 1, 2012: Christine Croce–Recommended, Stephen Dyer–Not Recommended.