Login | September 21, 2025
Common Pleas Presiding Judge Hightower unveils new initiative
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: September 19, 2025
As presiding judge of the Summit County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Judge Kani Harvey Hightower has pledged to continue her efforts to make the courts more accessible and easier to navigate.
Judge Hightower began her yearlong term in January after being unanimously elected by all of the judges in the four divisions of the Summit County Common Pleas Court.
“I am thankful for the trust that my fellow judges have in my ability to fulfill this role,” said Judge Hightower. “Prior to serving as a judge, I practiced extensively in all areas of the common pleas court so I am familiar with the judges.
“I am the first African American to serve as presiding judge of the common pleas court in at least 20 years,” said Judge Hightower. “It is very important to me to continue the court’s existing efforts to educate the public about the importance of jury service to help ensure that the jury pool is representative of the population of Summit County.”
Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Alison McCarty, who was re-elected as the general division’s administrative judge, said Judge Hightower is “a pleasure to work with,” adding she has put “a lot of energy into the position ensuring that prospective jurors are timely and appropriately notified of their responsibilities, while also working on accessibility issues within the courthouse.”
While Judge Hightower is committed to improving the court’s services and expanding access to justice, she has been busy coordinating what will be the first State of the County Courts Address, an initiative she unveiled this year.
The address will be presented during the Akron Bar Association’s Bench-Bar Conference on Oct. 3.
“Each of the four Common Pleas Court divisions has a unique set of issues and specialty programs that the public and even some members of the legal community may not know about,” said Judge Hightower. “Judges are normally restricted about what they can say publicly, so this will be a platform for them to talk about the positive things they are doing and raise awareness about some of the challenges they are facing.
“Many community advisors, leaders and stakeholders have been invited to attend,” said Judge Hightower. “We are hoping for a good turnout.”
Summit County Probate Court Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer said she applauds Judge Hightower’s “innovative advocacy to bring news of the courts to the entire bar and the public,” adding it’s a “great new opportunity” to let residents know what the courts actually do.
“Kani Hightower is an insightful judge with an extensive private practice before joining the bench,” said Judge Stormer. “Since she had the opportunity to appear in different courts, she has a unique background as presiding judge.”
Judge Hightower was raised in Stow and earned her bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in paralegal studies from Kent State University.
As an undergraduate, she was appointed clerk of council for the city of Aurora.
During her time with the city, she earned the designation of certified municipal clerk.
While attending The University of Akron School of Law, she started working as a senior paralegal and law clerk at Lynda Harvey Williams & Associates, the firm that her mother founded.
When she received her law degree in 2008, she was hired as an associate at the firm, where she focused on criminal, civil, family, juvenile and probate law. She was also an appellate lawyer and submitted multiple briefs to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Around the same time Judge Hightower started as a senior lecturer at Akron Law.
From January 2009 through 2019 she was an adjunct professor at the law school, a position she resumed in August 2023.
She teaches Family Law Practice and Procedure, a law course she developed to assist soon-to-be lawyers with the complexities of family law practice.
Prior to starting as a judge on the Summit County Domestic Relations Court in January 2023, she served as a part-time Akron Municipal Court magistrate.
As a magistrate, she presided over thousands of cases including evictions, traffic, criminal arraignments and small claims.
A member of the Akron and Ohio State bar associations, Judge Hightower has served on the Akron Bar Association Board of Directors. She is also an Akron Bar Foundation fellow and a fellow of the Ohio State Bar Association.
Judge Hightower previously served as an Akron Bar Association Character & Fitness interviewer and is a member of the Bench-Bar Committee and Family Law Section.
She has also chaired the Akron Bar Association’s Juvenile Court Committee and is a former member of the Grievance Investigative Subcommittee and the Commission on Judicial Candidates.
Additionally, Judge Hightower is a member of the Akron-Canton Barristers and Ohio Black Judges associations and previously served as the District 9 trustee for the Ohio Women’s Bar Association, where she continues to be a member.
She is also a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and Jack and Jill of America Inc.’s Akron Chapter.
Since taking the Summit County Domestic Relations Court bench, Judge Hightower has unveiled the “Justice Initiatives Collaborative,” which is compromised of community officials and officeholders who collaborate to increase access to justice, reduce trauma and provide legal representation to parties in pro se divorces and evictions.
Members have also been working to ensure that there is suitable and adequate parking for the public and to increase signage and ADA accessibility.
Judge Hightower is in discussions with transportation and other officials to see if a shuttle service can be added for people who can’t find parking near the courthouse, much like what’s done at the airports.
Judge Hightower said she is hoping to see the State of the County Courts address become a regular part of the Bench-Bar Conference.
“I plan to follow up the conference with either a bi-annual or quarterly newsletter that updates the public and legal professionals about what the county courts are doing,” said Judge Hightower. “They deserve to be informed.
“We are the fourth largest county in the state of Ohio and I aim to ensure that our county courts consistently provide much needed information to the public we serve,” Judge Hightower said.
Legal professionals and others interested in attending the entire Bench-Bar Conference or just the State of the County Courts address can contact the Akron Bar Association at 330-253-5007 or register at https://www.akronbar.org/2025BenchBar.