Login | May 04, 2025
Longtime Buckingham attorney receives Professionalism Award
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: October 24, 2014
As a child Peter Cahoon watched the iconic Perry Mason character free innocent clients on television, becoming enthralled with the idea of doing the exact same thing.
More than 30 years after passing the Ohio Bar Exam, the longtime Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs partner is known for his high caliber criminal defense, government investigations, family law and professional responsibility work.
His dedication to the legal profession has earned him many different honors over the years. This year, Cahoon joined attorneys like Gerald R. Leipply, Richard T. Cunningham and Orville Reed III in being selected by the Akron Bar Association as a recipient of the prestigious Professionalism Award.
“It’s humbling to be considered for something like this,” said Cahoon. “It makes me take stock of where I’ve come from and where I’ve been, and how much the legal community means to me.”
Born in Nyack, New York, Cahoon grew up almost entirely in New York City, attending the highly rated Stuyvesant High School. After graduating from New York University with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Cahoon went to The University of Akron School of Law.
“I would have to say law school was on my agenda since childhood,” said Cahoon. “When I was growing up, my entire family, even my grandparents, would gather around the television on Sunday nights to watch Perry Mason. I thought he had the greatest job ever. He defended innocent people, won the case and had a party after. What could be better?”
As time went on, Cahoon said he began reading real-life courtroom biographies and autobiographies like “My Life in Court” by Louis Nizer.
He said he chose The University of Akron School of Law because he wanted to see a different part of the country. Cahoon said the school was affordable, and the clinical and trial programs appealed to him, adding he never regretted his choice.
During law school, Cahoon married Lakewood native Heidi Eve-Cahoon, now a nurse practitioner at Summa Akron City Hospital, which he said helped to seal his decision to practice in Northeast Ohio.
Cahoon said he was fortunate enough to go into private practice with his mentor, Joseph Kodish, who was in 1978, and remains, the head of the Legal Defender Office of Summit County.
“I met Pete when he was a law clerk,” said Kodish, director of the Legal Defender Office of Summit County and a solo practitioner in Akron. “I thought he would make a great lawyer which he is. He was anxious to learn and had an inquiring mind. He asked great legal questions.
“He practiced with myself, Richard Sternberg and Dianne Newman at what was then Sternberg Newman & Associates. He did a lot of work for us,” said Kodish.
“He deserves the Professionalism Award with no qualifications. He is a perfect gentleman. You can ask any judge in the county. He is a polite, zealous advocate for his clients. His credibility in and out of court is unquestioned.”
“Attorney Pete Cahoon appeared before me many times," said retired Summit County Common Pleas Judge Ted Schneiderman. "He was always polite and courteous to the court and everyone else to whom he had contacts. He is a fine lawyer; some might even classify him as a lawyer's lawyer.
“He set high professional standards and I never once saw him lose his temper,” said Schneiderman. “One odd thing about Pete was that he always made a point of thanking me even if his motion was denied. One day I took him aside and said ‘Pete you don't have to thank me, especially when I'm denying your motions. Your clients might not like that.’ He continued to do it anyway.”
Over the years, Cahoon worked at several other firms. Prior to joining Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs as equity partner in 1998, he was a partner at Baker Chapman & Cahoon.
Cuyahoga Falls attorney George G. Keith first met Cahoon in 1984 when the two were on opposite sides of a case and they have been friends ever since.
“Pete taught me how to be courteous to others while zealously representing your client,” said Keith.
“He is the standard for professionalism in Summit County. He’s honest, well prepared, treats everyone with dignity, finishes what he starts and goes the extra step to help any lawyer in need.”
Cahoon said he chose to join Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs because he liked the idea of “being a part of something bigger than myself and being part of a team that has a variety of expertise that I can call on.”
“Pete is very deserving of this award,” said Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs Managing Partner John Slagter. “Pete’s long history with our firm has always been positive. He cares deeply about his clients and treats his colleagues with respect. I am honored to work with Pete, for he is a true asset to our firm and an outstanding role model in the legal community.
“I believe this award is unique since Pete practices in what are typically considered adversarial areas of the law, those being criminal and domestic law. The fact that he is being recognized by the bar, which includes his adversaries, for professionalism, proves how deserving Pete is of this recognition.”
Cahoon’s practice at Buckingham now entails about 45 percent criminal defense work, including many white collar cases, 45 percent family law and 10 percent professional responsibility matters in which he represents attorneys, doctors and others in disciplinary proceedings.
“I enjoy the process of preparing for trial and hearings and the challenge of competition in court,” said the 61-year-old. “I also enjoy transactional work since I get a chance to put together solid agreements. I enjoy lawyers overall. I think they are decent people and I’m grateful to be part of the legal community.”
Cahoon became involved with the Akron Bar Association early on, serving as chairman of the Certified Grievance Committee from 1988 to 1989, treasurer from 1991 to 1993 and president of the organization from 2004 to 2005. He was also chair of the Investigative Sub-Committee and Criminal Law Committee and is a past member of the executive committee and executive board.
“I have known Pete for most of his professional career,” said Stephen Fallis, assistant director of law for the City of Akron and past president of the Akron Bar Association.
“Both Pete and I served on the Akron Bar Association Certified Grievance Committee investigating complaints against lawyers for many years. We both chaired the committee. We worked on investigations together, and became very close friends during those years. Pete and I still get together for an occasional breakfast to catch up and share pictures of our children.”
He said after Cahoon’s terms on the committee expired, many lawyers in the area sought him out for advice, counsel, and representation, which Fallis said speaks highly of Cahoon’s reputation as “a lawyer’s lawyer.
“Pete is competent, hardworking and organized,” said Fallis. “Above all he is extraordinarily honest and professional. Pete is most deserving of the Akron Bar Association’s Professionalism Award.”
In addition to his work with the bar association, Cahoon was an elected member of the council of delegates of the Ohio State Bar Association from 2005 to 2010 and he currently sits on the board of governors of the Akron Bar Foundation. He is also a Bencher in the Scanlon/Bell Inn of Court.
In 2012, Cahoon was chosen for fellowship at the American Board of Criminal Lawyers and has been certified as a criminal trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He’s been as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at The University of Akron School of Law since 1993.
For eight years Cahoon has been a mock trial coach at Hudson High School, and for the past three years he’s done the same at Archbishop Hoban High School.
Cahoon and his wife have three daughters, Faith, a senior majoring in biology at The Ohio State University; Elizabeth, who is a global marketing manager at the cultural exchange company Intrax and Laura, an associate at Marco & Marco in Medina.
“My father has been very supportive. He’s absolutely my best friend,” said Laura, Cahoon’s oldest daughter. “Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer because I saw all the pleasure my father derived from his career. He used to tell my sisters and me that if you love what you do you never have to go to work a day in your life.
“We always read books about attorneys together and I thought the profession was very exciting,” said Laura.
She said her father makes it a point to introduce her to others in the profession. “He is absolutely loved in the legal community. Having his last name and practicing myself, I get to see everybody react when they realize that I am his daughter. All I hear is about how helpful he’s been and what a great attorney he is. I am very proud of him.”
“There is no one more deserving of the Professionalism Award than Pete,” said longtime friend and former colleague Robert C. Baker. “I’ve known him since law school. We took the bar together, practiced together for a few years and I’m the godfather of his youngest daughter, Faith.
“He respects and appreciates the profession. He’s always prepared but perhaps most importantly his word is his bond. If Pete Cahoon tells you something, you can take it to the bank.”
Cahoon, whose hobbies include distance running on both roads and trails and the mixed martial arts Muay Thai and Krav Maga, said he has no plans to retire anytime soon. He said he would continue to focus on providing service to his clients and contributing to the Akron Bar Association and the community.
“I have been very fortunate to have a profession that has never felt like a job and I plan to pay it forward,” Cahoon said.