Login | June 28, 2025
Akron Muni judge takes on a second specialized docket
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: June 27, 2025
He’s been leading the Akron Municipal Recovery Court since 2016 now Judge Jon Oldham has taken the reins as presiding judge of the OVI (Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated) Court.
Initially launched in 2007 by former Akron Municipal Court Judge Alison McCarty (now a Summit County Common Pleas Court judge), the specialized docket was previously known as ARCH (Active Recovery Creates Hope) Court.
The program provides support and treatment options to individuals with two or three OVI convictions within a ten-year period, who are willing to participate in active recovery.
Judge Oldham began leading the court in February, replacing Judge Nicole Walker who ran the program since 2020.
“I consider it a privilege to preside over both of these specialized dockets,” said Judge Oldham. “I’m passionate about helping individuals along their journeys to lifelong recovery and I’m fortunate to work with a talented and dedicated team on these two dockets.”
A native of Summit County, Ohio Judge Oldham received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and earned his juris doctor from The University of Akron School of Law in 2002.
He began his career as an associate at Oldham & Dowling (later known as Oldham Kramer), moving to Summit County Probate Court in 2013, where he was a magistrate to Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer.
Judge Oldham took the Akron Municipal Court bench in 2015 and was elected to serve as the administrative/presiding judge in 2019.
He began presiding over the Recovery Court in 2016.
The specialized docket provides substance use disorder offenders who successfully complete the program with a solid foundation for long-term recovery as well as the opportunity to have their charges dismissed.
Since it started in May 1995, over 1,000 people have graduated from the Akron Municipal Recovery Court.
“The program has had a 75% retention rate in recent years,” said Judge Oldham.
In addition to these programs, there are four other Akron Municipal Court specialized dockets, including the Mental Health Court presided over by Judge Annalisa S. Williams, the Valor Court led by Judge Jerry Larson and the Family Intervention Court and Restore Individual Self-Empowerment (RISE) Court, managed by Judge Ron Cable, who started RISE. Each one holds sessions two to four times per month.
“The first drug court began in Florida in 1989,” said Judge Oldham. “We now have over three decades of evidence-based data proving that specialized dockets work and save lives, while also improving our communities.
“This data shows that therapeutic jurisprudence makes our communities safer, while also reducing costs to taxpayers because incarceration is only a short-term fix and is expensive,” said Judge Oldham. “The war on drugs during the 1980s led to a massive increase in incarcerations for non-violent drug crimes and did nothing to treat the underlying disease of addiction.”
A longtime member of the Ohio State and Akron bar associations, Judge Oldham serves on the boards of CHC Addiction Services, the Boy Scouts of America Great Trail Council and the Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation.
Judge Oldham is also a fellow of the Akron Bar Foundation.
He co-chairs the Akron Bar’s Law Week Committee and previously served on the Akron Bar Association Board of Trustees.
A life member of the NAACP, Judge Oldham is a Catholic Youth Organization certified coach.
He lives in Akron with his wife and their three children and coaches the St. Hilary Mock Trial Team.
Over the years, he’s received a number of accolades, including a 30 for the Future Award from the Greater Akron Chamber in 2012, the Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award and the National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, both in 2019.
Last year he was presented with the Sister Ignatia Hope Award during the Summit County ADM Board’s Trailblazer Awards ceremony. The accolade is given to individuals who dedicate themselves to serving as innovators and advocates for those in recovery.
“Substance use disorder is a treatable disease and our community has a wealth of resources available to assist our programs,” said Judge Oldham. “My team and I ensure the environment we provide is positive, uplifting and of course full of hope.”