Lawyers' website rates judges in 9 contested Cuyahoga County races

Stan Donaldson, The Plain Dealer

View full size Gus Chan, The PD Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Bridget McCafferty talks to the media after being arraigned in federal court on corruption charges.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County voters will vote in nine contested judicial races in the Nov. 2 general election and local lawyers have released its ratings of the candidates.

Deborah Coleman chairs judge4yourself.com , a judicial rankings website that compiles information from four bar organizations in Cuyahoga County. She said voters should educate themselves on candidates to make sure they select the best qualified candidates, she said. 

"We do have a situation here where the candidates who have stepped forward to run present the voters with real choices," Coleman said. 

Voters will decide two state Supreme Court races, two 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals contests and five Common Pleas Court races -- four in the General Division and one in Domestic Relations.

One of the most talked about races is between incumbent Common Pleas Judge Bridget McCafferty and Michael Astrab. Judicial races are officially nonpartisan but parties throw their weight behind their preferred candidates. Astrab is a Republican and McCafferty is a Democrat. 

 Astrab, a private practice lawyer and former financial adviser, received "Good" or "Adequate" ratings from all four bar associations -- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Ohio Women's Bar Association and the Norman S. Minor Bar Association for black lawyers -- that rated judges for judge4yourself.com.

Astrab said he would bring real world experience to the bench, such as adding wireless Internet throughout the Justice Center. He would like for there to be a universal docket accessible to all courts in the county. 

Michael Astrab

"I have a business background that a lot of the candidates don't have," Astrab said. "I would bring honesty and integrity to the bench." 

The Plain Dealer's editorial board endorsed Astrab, who has a law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. 

His opponent, McCafferty, was recently charged with making false statements to law enforcement in the federal probe of corruption in the county. Prosecutors say she lied about secret dealings with former county Auditor Frank Russo -- who pleaded guilty to 21 corruption related charges and faces nearly 22 years in prison -- and county Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, who is charged with 26 crimes and scheduled for trial next year.

McCafferty pleaded not guilty to the charges and vowed to stay in the race. The local Democratic Party -- which endorsed her in the primary -- has taken her name off the sample ballot mailed to voters.

She also graduated from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and has been a judge since 1999.

The judge was not available to comment for this story. She received a "Not Recommended" rating from the Cleveland Metropolitan bar Association and "Adequate" ratings from the other three groups.

Another closely watched race involves a longtime prosecutor and a veteran private-practice lawyer.

Assistant County Prosecutor Maureen Clancy has prosecuted defendants for crimes ranging from scams targeting the elderly to murder.

Maureen Clancy

If elected, she said she would cut down on the number of pretrial hearings in criminal cases and consider alternatives to jail for nonviolent offenses.

 "I want to be a hands-on judge and be available to all parties at all times," Clancy said.

Clancy received a "Good" rating by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and adequate ratings from the other groups in judge4yourself.

She has been an assistant county prosecutor for almost 15 years and received endorsements from high-profile political players, including U.S. Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Marcia Fudge, numerous Cleveland City Council members and several suburban mayors.

The Plain Dealer's editorial board endorsed Clancy, who got her law degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. 

View full size Robert McClelland

Her opponent, Robert McClelland, is a partner at Rademaker, Matty, McClelland and Greve. He has been a defense and civil attorney for nearly 30 years. He is a graduate of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

He received "Excellent" ratings from the four local bar organizations and has been endorsed by several suburban mayors. 

"I really have a huge wealth of experience," McClelland said. "I've tried all sorts of cases -- zoning, theft, you name it. And I would bring the right demeanor and attitude to the bench." 

Related topics: Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court , election guide , judge dick ambrose , judicial races , Polictics

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