Joseph F. Russo (Ohio judicial candidate)
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Joseph F. Russo is running in a special election for judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court in Ohio. He is on the ballot in the special general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Cleveland, Ohio (2025)
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
Special general election for Cleveland Municipal Court
Incumbent Christopher Woodworth, Brett Horton, Nikki McGowan, and Joseph F. Russo are running in the special general election for Cleveland Municipal Court on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Christopher Woodworth (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Brett Horton (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Nikki McGowan (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Joseph F. Russo (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ray Tarasuck (Nonpartisan)
Endorsements
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2023
See also: City elections in Cleveland, Ohio (2023)
General election
General election for Cleveland Municipal Court
Incumbent Jazmin Torres Lugo defeated Joseph F. Russo in the general election for Cleveland Municipal Court on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jazmin Torres Lugo (Nonpartisan) | 63.1 | 37,279 |
| Joseph F. Russo (Nonpartisan) | 36.9 | 21,801 | ||
| Total votes: 59,080 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Russo in this election.
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (2022)
General election
General election for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division
Anne McDonough defeated Pamela Hawkins in the general election for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Anne McDonough (Nonpartisan) | 66.7 | 198,296 | |
| Pamela Hawkins (Nonpartisan) | 33.3 | 98,982 | ||
| Total votes: 297,278 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division
Anne McDonough defeated Tracy Martin Peebles, Joseph F. Russo, and Retanio Rucker in the Democratic primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Anne McDonough | 45.3 | 34,192 | |
| Tracy Martin Peebles | 26.6 | 20,073 | ||
| Joseph F. Russo | 21.0 | 15,861 | ||
| Retanio Rucker | 7.1 | 5,385 | ||
| Total votes: 75,511 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division
Pamela Hawkins advanced from the Republican primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Pamela Hawkins | 100.0 | 34,157 | |
| Total votes: 34,157 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
See also: Municipal elections in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (2020)
General election
General election for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division
Colleen Ann Reali defeated James Cochran in the general election for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Colleen Ann Reali (Nonpartisan) | 68.4 | 309,797 |
| James Cochran (Nonpartisan) | 31.6 | 143,394 | ||
| Total votes: 453,191 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Mayer (Nonpartisan)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division
Colleen Ann Reali defeated Joy Kennedy, Joseph F. Russo, James Reddy Jr., and Ginny Millas in the Democratic primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division on April 28, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Colleen Ann Reali | 44.5 | 51,551 |
| Joy Kennedy | 26.6 | 30,794 | ||
| Joseph F. Russo | 16.4 | 18,971 | ||
| James Reddy Jr. | 7.2 | 8,399 | ||
| Ginny Millas | 5.3 | 6,200 | ||
| Total votes: 115,915 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division
John Mayer advanced from the Republican primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division on April 28, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | John Mayer | 100.0 | 28,897 | |
| Total votes: 28,897 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2019
See also: City elections in Cleveland, Ohio (2019)
General election
General election for Cleveland Municipal Court
Incumbent Marilyn B. Cassidy defeated Joseph F. Russo in the general election for Cleveland Municipal Court on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Marilyn B. Cassidy (Nonpartisan) | 55.2 | 18,205 | |
| Joseph F. Russo (Nonpartisan) | 44.8 | 14,802 | ||
| Total votes: 33,007 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Russo in this election.
2017
- See also: Ohio local judicial elections, 2017
Ohio held local judicial elections for municipal jurisdiction trial courts on November 7, 2017. Ballotpedia provided coverage of the municipal court elections that took place within the largest cities by population in Ohio. Jazmin Torres Lugo defeated Joseph F. Russo and incumbent Janet Rath Colaluca in the Cleveland Municipal Court (full term commencing January 2, 2018) general election.[1]
| Cleveland Municipal Court, Full Term Commencing 1/2/2018 General Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jazmin Torres Lugo |
36.03% | 18,387 |
| Joseph F. Russo | 33.09% | 16,886 |
| Janet Rath Colaluca Incumbent | 30.88% | 15,757 |
| Total Votes | 51,030 | |
| Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "2017 General Election Official Results," November 22, 2017 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The judges of the Ohio Municipal Courts are each elected to six-year terms. The elections for this court are nonpartisan contested elections with partisan primaries. To serve on this court, a judge must be a resident of the municipality, licensed in the state, and practice law for six years or serve as a judge of court of record.[2]
2016
Ohio held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election took place on March 15, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 16, 2015.
Michael Shaughnessy defeated Joseph Russo and James Satola in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division Democratic primary election.
| Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas (General Division–Astrab Seat), Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Michael Shaughnessy |
57.17% | 74,240 |
| Joseph Russo | 29.04% | 37,715 |
| James Satola | 13.79% | 17,906 |
| Total Votes | 129,861 | |
| Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "Election Results," accessed March 16, 2016 | ||
Endorsements
Russo received the following rankings, according to Judge4Yourself.com, for an overall rating of 1.5 out of 4 by the website:[3]
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association: Adequate
- Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association: Not Recommended
- Norman S. Minor Bar Association: Adequate
- Ohio Women's Bar Association: Adequate
According to the compiled results at Judge4Yourself.com, Russo received a rating of 2.25 out of 4 by local Cleveland bar associations. Those break down as:
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association: Adequate
- Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association: Good
- Norman S. Minor Bar Association: Adequate
- Ohio Women's Bar Association: Adequate[4]
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 391 judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are all selected in an identical manner. Qualified individuals wishing to join the bench must participate in partisan primary elections followed by nonpartisan general elections.[5]
The chief judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are chosen by peer vote and serve for one year.[5]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must be:[5]
- a district or county resident (for court of appeals and common pleas judges);
- at least six years practiced in law; and
- under the age of 70.
Under the Ohio Constitution, a judge who reaches 70 years of age may be assigned by the chief justice to active duty, receiving payment on a per-day basis in addition to whatever retirement benefits he or she is entitled to.
2012
Russo was defeated in the Democratic primary on March 6, 2012, receiving 18.24 percent of the votes cast.[6][7]
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2023
Joseph F. Russo did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Joseph F. Russo did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Joseph F. Russo did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Joseph F. Russo did not complete Ballotpedia's 2019 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Russo answered questions from Judicial Votes Count regarding his 2016 candidacy. When asked, "What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?" he stated, "Prior to becoming a judge I served as an Assistant County Prosecutor for Cuyahoga County. I have extensive trial experience and have tried numerous serious felony cases including murder and rape." He stated that he was running for the common pleas court seat "[to] continue reforms in the Court system and to continue to elevate the public’s trust in the Judicial System."[8]
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "2017 Candidate List," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Ohio; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Judge4Yourself.com, "March 15, 2016 Primary Election Judicial Candidate Ratings," accessed March 7, 2016
- ↑ Judge4Yourself.com, 2012 Democratic Primary Ratings
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Ohio," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, Primary Election Results 2012
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, Primary Election Candidates Scroll to page 24
- ↑ Judicial Votes Count, "Joseph F. Russo," accessed March 7, 2016
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
