News

On May 1, the Akron Municipal Court was awarded the 2024 Akron Bar Association Diversity Award during the organization’s annual Law Day Luncheon. This award recognizes and celebrates organizations and individuals that demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion in Summit County.

Akron Municipal Court was nominated and received the award on behalf of its standout programs recognizing diversity, equity and inclusion as key values.

Akron Municipal Court Judges Annalisa S. Williams and David Hamilton are both past recipients of the Diversity Award.

The court’s six specialized dockets and three programs assist all individuals and aim at reducing recidivism.

Some of the criteria for the Diversity Award includes:

• Shows a commitment to recruitment, retention and promotion of underrepresented populations and diverse initiatives that foster an inclusive and equitable work environment.
• Promotes and facilitates equitable education and social engagement between varying ethnic or religious backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations, and or/ physical and mental capabilities.
• Exhibits visionary leadership to confront and resolve inequities through decision-making, allocation of resources, and establishment of priorities.
• Goals, steps and accomplishments are outlined toward achieving a work environment that recognizes, promotes and encourages a diverse workforce throughout the organization at all levels.

Akron Municipal Court is committed to diversity and inclusion among staff and individuals in the criminal justice system, promoting these ideals in their work.

“The Akron Bar Association is proud to recognize those in our legal community who are promoting and living the concept of diversity.  The Akron Municipal Court has a long history of doing just that and is a perfect recipient for the 2024 Diversity Award,” said Akron Bar Association and Foundation Executive Director C. Allen Nichols.

The Court’s six Judges each lead a specialized docket and/or program:

• Administrative/Presiding Judge Annalisa S. Williams
  • Mental Health Court (specialized docket)
  • Peace of Mind (program)
• Judge Jerry Larson
  • Valor Court (specialized docket)
• Judge Jon Oldham
  • Recovery Court (specialized docket)
• Judge Ron Cable
  • Family Intervention Court (specialized docket)
  • Restore Individual Self-Empowerment (specialized docket also known as RISE)
  • Connect (program)
• Judge Nicole Walker
  • Active Recovery Creates Hope (specialized docket also known as ARCH)
• Judge David Hamilton
  • Compassion, Opportunity, Mentoring, Purpose, Achievement, Success, Stepping forward (program also known as COMPASS)
  • Raising the Bar (a program created through a partnership between Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s My Brother’s Keeper Summit County Program and Judge Hamilton)

Also receiving awards during the Law Day Luncheon were Larry Poulos, who received the Liberty Bell Award, and Christ Child Society of Akron, who received the Public Service Award.

Judge Ron Cable, Judge Annalisa S. Williams and Judge Jon Oldham at the May 1 event