Contact:  Ed Ferenc, Public Information Officer
Cleveland Municipal Court
216 664 6787 / 216 789 2597
ference@cmcoh.org     www.cmcoh.org

(Cleveland) – For the fourth consecutive year, the Judges on the Cleveland Municipal Court have chosen the Honorable Michelle D. Earley as Administrative and Presiding Judge.

“I must thank all the judges for their unwavering confidence in this challenging year. As we navigate through these challenging times, we have enhanced and expanded our operations by taking full advantage of current technology,” said Judge Earley.

Following the suspension of all personal dockets from mid-March to June, the Court encouraged those with cases to enter not guilty pleas online and then coordinated with the Cleveland Prosecutors Office to amend all minor misdemeanor moving violations that do not involve motor vehicle accidents to a non-moving, no point violation.  Much of that process was streamlined by revamping the Court’s website (www.cmcoh.org).

Under Judge Earley’s leadership, the Court also utilized grant money to obtain additional video conference licenses and secure the technology for more staff to work remotely.

“The Court is committed to administering justice in a manner that fulfills our constitutional and statutory responsibilities while protecting our staff and the public from the dangers of Covid-19,” said Judge Earley.

Looking ahead to 2021, Judge Earley, who came to the Court with a strong background in technology, will continue the implementation of a new case management system that will further enhance current technologies and provide a more efficient system of justice.   

The Cleveland Municipal Court has jurisdiction in misdemeanor cases where the maximum sentence does not exceed one year in jail and/or a fine of not more than $1,000, the initial appearances of those charged with felony offenses committed within its jurisdiction, small claims not exceeding $6,000 and civil disputes that can range as high as $15,000.

For more background about Judge Earley go to:http://clevelandmunicipalcourt.org/judicial-services/meet-the-judges/judge-michelle-d-earley