Michael Shaughnessy
Michael Shaughnessy (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division in Ohio. His current term ends on January 10, 2029.
Shaughnessy (Nonpartisan, Democratic Party) ran for re-election for judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division in Ohio. Shaughnessy won in the general election on November 8, 2022. He advanced from the Democratic primary on May 3, 2022.
Biography
Shaughnessy earned a B.A. from Cleveland State University and a J.D. from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He works as a private attorney and a municipal prosecutor for the city of South Euclid. He is also an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve School of Law. Prior to these roles, Shaughnessy worked as a Cuyahoga County Probation Officer from 1994 to 1996 and as a bailiff for the court of common pleas from 1997 to 2002.[1]
Shaughnessy is a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association, the Northeast Ohio Municipal Prosecutor’s Association, a life member of Eighth Judicial Conference, a board member of the Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and a board member South Euclid Municipal Court Mental Health Court.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (2022)
General election
General election for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Incumbent Michael Shaughnessy won election in the general election for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michael Shaughnessy (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 204,918 |
| Total votes: 204,918 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Incumbent Michael Shaughnessy advanced from the Democratic primary for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Shaughnessy | 100.0 | 57,090 |
| Total votes: 57,090 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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.
General election
Michael Shaughnessy ran unopposed in the general election.
| Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas (General Division–Astrab Seat), General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Michael Shaughnessy (unopposed) |
100.00% | 275,376 |
| Total Votes | 275,376 | |
| Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "Election Results," accessed November 9, 2016 | ||
Primary election
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
Shaughnessy was endorsed by the Cuyahoga Democratic Executive Committee.[2]
Shaughnessy also received the following rankings, according to Judge4Yourself.com, for an overall rating of 4 out of 4 by the website:[3]
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association: Excellent
- Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association: Excellent
- Norman S. Minor Bar Association: Excellent
- Ohio Women's Bar Association: Excellent
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.[4]
The chief judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are chosen by peer vote and serve for one year.[4]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must be:[4]
- 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.
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael Shaughnessy did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Shaughnessy 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:
| “ | I have vast experience in the Court of Common Pleas General Division as both an employee and litigator. As a Cuyahoga County Probation Officer, I have had relevant Court experience. I began as an Investigator for the Probation Department. My duties included preparing in-depth reports for the Judges, including sentencing recommendations. It was critical to know the relevant sentencing guidelines as well as rehabilitative programming and its application to each case. As a Supervising Officer, I interacted with those on probation as well as the Court and staff. I routinely appeared in Court and testified on the record. As a Bailiff in the Court of Common Pleas, it was was my responsibility to manage the Court’s Criminal and Civil Dockets. For over six years, I worked directly with the Judge, Staff Attorney, Scheduler, Sheriffs, and members of the Court Administration, litigants, and attorneys. It was imperative to know the inner workings and various divisions of the Justice System. I was directly involved in the criminal and civil hearings before the Court. As a Prosecutor, I have litigated thousands of criminal and traffic matters. I have vast knowledge of municipal law and the relationship between the municipal courts and the Court of Common Pleas. It is my responsibility to represent the interests of the State of Ohio at initial appearances and probable cause hearings that result in felony indictments. As a sole practitioner, a majority of my practice has been in the Court of Common Pleas, General Division. I have represented an infinite number of criminally accused. I am certified by the Court to represent those individuals on the Mental Health Docket and am certified by the State of Ohio to represent those accused of Capital Murder. I have had an incalculable number of jury and bench trials. The above experience is immeasurable and has prepared me for the duties and responsibilities of a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas.[5] | ” |
| —Michael Shaughnessy (2016)[1] | ||
When asked, "Why are you running for this particular court seat?" he responded:
| “ | I am running for this particular court seat because I am confident that my background both personal and professional have prepared me for the Judiciary. As a defense attorney, I have spent my career zealously representing the accused and underprivileged in the community. As a prosecutor, I have litigated and evaluated cases fairly and impartially. I have a full understanding of the concerns of victims and those affected by crime. I have seen justice and injustice in our legal system. I am assured that the Court and Community would be well served with a Judge with the extensive and diverse experience that I possess.[5] | ” |
| —Michael Shaughnessy (2016)[1] | ||
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Judicial Votes Count, "Michael Patrick Shaughnessy," accessed March 7, 2016
- ↑ Facebook, "Friends of Michael P. Shaughnessy: Cuyahoga Democratic Executive Committee," January 2, 2016
- ↑ Judge4Yourself.com, "March 15, 2016 Primary Election Judicial Candidate Ratings," accessed March 7, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Ohio," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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
