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Daniel Gaul
Daniel Gaul was a judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division in Ohio. He left office on January 5, 2025.
Gaul (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division in Ohio. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Education
Gaul received his undergraduate degree from Cleveland State University in 1977 and his J.D. from Capital University Law School in 1981.[1][2]
Career
Prior to joining the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Gaul worked in private practice for ten years.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Incumbent Daniel Gaul defeated Wanda Jones in the general election for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Daniel Gaul (D) | 54.7 | 202,140 | |
 | Wanda Jones (R)  | 45.3 | 167,668 | |
| Total votes: 369,808 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Incumbent Daniel Gaul advanced from the Democratic primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Daniel Gaul | |
| ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Wanda Jones advanced from the Republican primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Wanda Jones | 100.0 | 29,761 |
| Total votes: 29,761 | |||
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2012
Gaul defeated Edele Passalacqua in the general election on November 6, winning 69.81 percent of the vote.[3][4]
Cleveland bar association ratings
According to the compiled results at Judge4Yourself.com, Gaul received a rating of 3.5 out of 4 by local Cleveland bar associations in 2012. Those break down as:
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association: Good
- Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association: Excellent
- Norman S. Minor Bar Association: Excellent
- Ohio Women's Bar Association: Good[5]
Endorsements
- The Plain Dealer.[6]
Noteworthy cases
Carlton Heard case
Judge Gaul was mentioned in season 3 of the podcast Serial. In 2016, Judge Gaul presided over the case of Carlton Heard. Heard was charged with attempted murder, felonious assault, and aggravated robbery for a drive-by shooting in October 2015. Heard pleaded not guilty. According to Cleveland.com, after Heard's attorneys requested to delay the trial date, Gaul said if Heard pleaded no contest to the charges, he would be sentenced to 14 years in prison. If the case went to trial and Heard was convicted, Gaul said Heard would receive a longer sentence. Heard accepted the agreement and pleaded guilty.[7]
The Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals heard the case on appeal. In 2017, the court reversed Heard's sentence, saying Gaul's actions made the defendant feel like a fair trial was not possible. The court also said Gaul coerced Heard into a guilty plea.[7]
Heard's case was retried before Judge John J. Russo. A jury found him not guilty.[7]
License suspension
In October 2010, Gaul began a stayed six month suspension of his law license. In a 4-2 ruling, with Eric Brown recusing himself, the Ohio Supreme Court decided that Gaul has "made improper public statements in court" and "improperly attempted to initiate an 'Amber Alert'."[8] Two justices, Maureen O'Connor and Judith Ann Lanzinger, favored the recommendation of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, a one year suspension.[9]
In response Gaul said, "After nearly 20 years of distinguished judicial service, this sanction is disappointing. However, I would rather live with this disappointment than the knowledge that I abandoned the victim, Mrs. Ingram, when she desperately needed protection only the court could provide."[8] If Gaul meets certain conditions, he will not have to face the suspension.[8]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbio - ↑ Judge4Yourself.com: Daniel Gaul Biographical Statement (dead link)
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, Official Election Results 11/6/2012: Court of Common Pleas Judge
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, Primary Election Candidates
- ↑ Judge4Yourself.com, 2012 November General Election Judicial Candidate Ratings
- ↑ Editorial: "Plain Dealer endorsements for Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court General Division," September 29, 2012
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Cleveland.com, "Serial Season 3, Episode 2 introduces listeners to Judge Daniel Gaul," September 20, 2018
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The News-Herald, "Cleveland judge Daniel Gaul receives stayed license suspension - UPDATED," October 7, 2010
- ↑ The Plain Dealer, "Ohio Supreme Court punishes Cuyahoga judge's misconduct with stayed license," October 7, 2010
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
