Angela R. Stokes
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Angela R. Stokes served as a judge on the Cleveland Municipal Court in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. She was first elected to the court in 1995 and was re-elected in 1999, 2005, and 2011.[1] She resigned in December 2015 after facing charges of judicial misconduct. Her term was to have expired on January 1, 2018.[2]
Education
Stokes received her B.A. degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park and her J.D. degree from the Howard University School of Law.[1]
Career
Before becoming a judge, Stokes served as an assistant attorney general for the State of Ohio. She also previously worked as a corporate attorney with BP America, Inc.’s law department.[1]
Noteworthy events
Courtroom misconduct allegations
Since she first took the bench in 1995, Judge Angela R. Stokes faced what a formal complaint would later describe as a disproportionately large number of accusations of unfairness, unreasonable behavior, and an "inability to administer her docket in a timely manner."[3] Charges against her came from prosecutors and defense attorneys alike. She was accused of reprimanding, abusing and jailing individuals on minor charges such as whispering. Lawyers were reportedly not allowed to ask questions about courtroom procedures. This alleged misbehavior prompted calls for Stokes to have a mental health examination.[4]
Stokes denied the allegations and fought efforts to suspend her law license. She accused investigators of racial and gender bias. She insisted that her behavior in court did not harm the public.[5]
A hearing on the case was originally set for February 23, 2015, but was delayed a few days as lawyers from both sides tried to reach a settlement of sanctions for her behavior and conditions for possibly returning to the bench.[5][6] On February 26 and 27, Stokes' hearing resumed as the last-minute settlement negotiations fell through.[7][8]
Stokes's motion for dissolution or modification of her suspension order can be read here.
The Ohio Supreme Court's disciplinary office's response to Stokes's motion can be read here.
Stokes resignation
In December 2015, Stokes resigned and agreed never to serve on the bench again in exchange for charges being dropped.[2]
Elections
2011
Stokes was re-elected to the Cleveland Municipal Court in the general election held on November 8, 2011 with 55.65 percent of the vote.[9][10]
- See also: Ohio judicial elections, 2011
Bar association ratings
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association - Not recommended
- Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association - Not recommended
- Norman S. Minor Bar Association - Not recommended
- Ohio Women's Bar Association - Not recommended[11]
Recent news
See also
External links
- Cleveland Municipal Court, "Judge Angela R. Stokes"
- Cleveland Municipal Court website
- The Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Four groups of lawyers give thumbs down to powerful ballot name of Stokes, but will it matter?" October 6, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cleveland Municipal Court, "Judge Angela R. Stokes," accessed February 13, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Newsnet5, "Cleveland judge Angela Stokes agrees to step down, never run again," December 23, 2015
- ↑ The Supreme Court of Ohio, "Complaint against Angela Rochelle Stokes," accessed November 5, 2015
- ↑ Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Angela Stokes should undergo psychiatric examination for courtroom behavior, Ohio Supreme Court complaint concludes," October 18, 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cleveland.com, "Judge Angela Stokes says she's not being treated the same as 'white judges' and denies her courtroom behavior has harmed the public: Mark Naymik," February 10, 2015
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "Judge Angela Stokes' disciplinary hearing on her courtroom behavior delayed as sanctions and settlement discussed," February 20, 2015
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "Judge Angela Stokes to defend her courtroom behavior at trial after failing to reach last-minute settlement," February 24, 2015
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "Judge Angela Stokes trial continues (Live coverage): Mark Naymik," February 27, 2015
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "Unofficial Results, 11/8/2011," accessed February 13, 2015
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "Candidates for the 2011 Primary Election," accessed February 13, 2015
- ↑ Gavel Grab, "Columnist: Judge's Record, not Name, Should Sway Re-Election," October 6, 2011
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio
State courts:
Ohio Supreme Court • Ohio District Courts of Appeal • Ohio Courts of Common Pleas • Ohio County Courts • Ohio Municipal Courts • Ohio Court of Claims
State resources:
Courts in Ohio • Ohio judicial elections • Judicial selection in Ohio
