Login | March 13, 2026
Akron Muni Admin./Presiding Judge Hamilton discusses the court’s top priorities
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: March 13, 2026
Since taking the bench in 2019, Akron Municipal Court Judge David Hamilton has served as administrative/presiding judge in 2023 and 2025, overseeing the relocation of the court to the Oliver Ocasek Building and the launch of a new case management system, as well as implementing a new dress code for employees and the public.
Now after being elected by his fellow judges to continue his leadership role in 2026, he’s working toward an entirely new set of goals.
“I appreciate my fellow judges and our entire team at the Akron Municipal Court for placing their confidence in me once again this year,” Judge Hamilton said. “It’s a huge responsibility and I’m accepting the challenge.”
This year his main focus will be on filling a number of key positions, including the selection of a new court administrator.
“This is our top position, and we want to find the right candidate as quickly as possible,” said Judge Hamilton. “We’ve also had some vacancies in other top positions, notably our chief service bailiff position that we filled recently.”
In addition, he said the newly implemented Tyler Technologies’ Odyssey Case Management System has created the need for a few new positions to assist with data input.
“One full-time and two part-time employees have been added as a result,” he said.
Judge Hamilton also plans to ensure the new dress code policy is being adhered to by all members of the public.
“We want everyone to dress appropriately,” said Judge Hamilton. “We realize that not everyone can afford to buy court-appropriate attire so we set up a resource room that contains free clothing that they can wear to court, job interviews or for any other occasion.
“Many members of the legal community have generously donated items.”
A Summit County native, Judge Hamilton received his bachelor’s degree from The University of Akron and earned his juris doctor from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2012.
He started his career as a field organizer in Akron and Cuyahoga Falls for Organizing for America, where he worked for former President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, later taking on the role of NAACP legal chair for the Akron chapter of the organization under former president Ophelia Averitt, advising inmates on their civil rights.
From January 2013 to January 2016, he was an assistant prosecutor for the city of Akron.
Then in the spring of 2016, Judge Hamilton became a volunteer CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and a court-appointed attorney guardian ad litem for the Summit County Probate and Juvenile courts. He also started as an associate at Littlejohn Law, where he focused on real estate, estate planning and domestic relations matters.
Prior to taking the bench in 2019, Judge Hamilton was a member of Summit County Council and served as a judicial attorney to Akron Municipal Court Judge Ron Cable.
In addition to serving as administrative/presiding judge, he continues to hear a full caseload and run the two court-sponsored programs he started--COMPASS (Compassion, Opportunity, Mentoring, Purpose, Achievement, Success, Stepping forward) and Raising the Bar.
Now a diversionary program, COMPASS was unveiled on Nov. 2, 2020. It provides services and assistance to men who’ve recently become involved in the criminal justice system to help them get their lives back on track.
Raising the Bar was begun as a pilot program in October 2022 in conjunction with Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s office. Its goal is to expose minority high school students to the legal profession and the many career opportunities it offers.
He also plans to continue working toward improving on-site amenities for the public through grant-funded technology, while also advancing partnerships with social service agencies.
A graduate of Leadership Akron Class 34 and Leadership Ohio, Judge Hamilton recently completed his term on the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.
He continues to serve on the board of Leadership Akron and is an adjunct professor at Akron Law.
An avid runner and co-creator of the Solely Responsible running group, which promotes fitness in the Black community, Judge Hamilton joined the board of the Akron Marathon in late February.
He’s received quite a few accolades over the years.
In 2024, he was presented with Leadership Ohio’s Community Impact Award and was one of 25 professionals in the Akron/Canton region to earn an Accent on Excellence award from the National Sales & Marketing Executives Akron/Canton.
Judge Hamilton is also a recipient of the Akron Bar Association Diversity Award, the Judge Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award in Law and the Akron Urban League’s Rising Star Award.
In addition, he received a 30 for the Future Award from the Greater Akron Chamber in 2020 and was a Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 honoree in 2019.
“My goal is to continue the work we’re doing while supporting my fellow judges and their efforts with their specialized dockets, all while creating a workplace environment where our employees can thrive and excel.
“Furthermore, I want to continue to make our court more accessible and user friendly to the public,” said Judge Hamilton.