Bridget M. O’Brien was elected to the Cleveland Municipal Court on November 7, 2023.

“I did not always know that I would be a judge, but I knew that I would dedicate my career to service. The opportunity to join the Cleveland Municipal Court, however, has exceeded my expectations,” said Judge O’Brien.

Prior to attending law school, Judge O’Brien served as a volunteer with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps where she worked with marginalized populations.  The lessons learned in serving less-advantaged people have fueled her commitment to service and to ensuring equal access to justice in the legal system.

Judge O’Brien began her legal career as a law clerk with the Cleveland Legal Aid Society and is thrilled to return to direct service to the community in her capacity as a municipal judge.

Judge O’Brien brings a unique perspective to the bench based on over 20 years of diverse legal experience prior to joining the Court. As a Certified Court Manager licensed through the National Center of State Courts, Judge O’Brien served as the Deputy Court Administrator for the Eighth District Court of Appeals from 2017-2023.  She previously worked as a Judicial Attorney for the Eighth District for nearly 12 years and as a Staff Attorney for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas for one year.  She also served as an Assistant Director of Law for the City of Cleveland in its Code Enforcement and Litigation sections for several years.

Judge O’Brien is an active member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and a graduate of the CMBA’s Leadership Academy.  She is licensed to practice in Ohio and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and is a proud alumna of Miami University of Ohio (B.A. in International Studies) and Cleveland State University College of Law (Juris Doctorate).

She has twice been appointed to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court’s Civil Justice Program and has regularly volunteered to help with the Ohio Supreme Court’s Technology Grant Fund Program.  Judge O’Brien served many years as the Co-Chair of the Education Committee for the Ohio Association for Court Administration.  She also served one year on the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure prior to taking the bench.

“I am honored to serve a court that has a direct impact on my community and one that is a problem-solving court,” she said.  

Judge O’Brien and her husband Matt are proud residents of Cleveland for over 20 years.  Together, they are raising three children who keep them humble and grateful.