Cleveland Municipal Judges Reelect Michelle D. Earley as Administrative and Presiding Judge

Dec 21, 2023

(Cleveland) – For what is now seven years in a row, the Judges on the Cleveland Municipal Court have chosen the Honorable Michelle D. Earley as Administrative and Presiding Judge (AJPJ).

Contact: Ed Ferenc, Public Information Officer
Cleveland Municipal Court
216 664 6787 / 216 789 2597
[email protected]     www.cmcoh.org

(Cleveland) – For what is now seven years in a row, the Judges on the Cleveland Municipal Court have chosen the Honorable Michelle D. Earley as Administrative and Presiding Judge (AJPJ).

Judge Earley, who has been with the court since 2009 was first elected AJPJ at the end of 2017. Under her leadership, she orchestrated the launch of the Pretrial Services Department, navigated the Court through the pandemic and in 2022, oversaw the implementation of a new case management system.

Utilizing the resources of the Court, Judge Earley in partnership with the Clerk of Court and various public agencies, conducted a number of community events over the past year in an effort to help citizens get their drivers licenses back and criminal records sealed.

“We need to do so much more to change the perception of the criminal justice system and one way to do that is to go into the areas of the city where there is the greatest need and provide what is necessary to get their cases resolved so they can move on with their lives,” she said.

Judge Earley is also very proud of the work in Pretrial Services which began in 2018.

“This relatively new department has helped our judges make prompt, fair and effective decisions in the release or detention of defendants without jeopardizing the safety of the community.”

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. Click here for more background about Judge Earley.