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Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio takes the reins as OSBA president

SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter

Published: August 7, 2020

Utilizing new technology to keep members informed during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, addressing legal issues around race and the criminal justice system and continuing to promote and advance the rule of law in uncertain times are among the key items on the agenda of Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) President Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio.
The Summit County Juvenile Court judge took the reins from outgoing OSBA President Eleni A. ("Eleana") Drakatos on July 1, just over three weeks before the organization’s annual meeting, which was held virtually on July 24.
“Under normal circumstances, the passing of the gavel would have taken place at the annual meeting in Columbus in May, however the meeting was postponed until July in the hopes that it could be held with our members in attendance,” said Judge Tucci Teodosio. “Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on mass gatherings and, quite frankly, our concern for the health of our members left us with no alternative but to resort to a virtual meeting in July.
“This change is one of many, which has made for an interesting year during my time as president-elect,” said Judge Tucci Teodosio. “Like this meeting, our plan going forward at least until the end of the year is to hold our meetings remotely, as we seek to comply with state and health requirements.”
“I met Judge Teodosio when I started serving on the OSBA Board of Governors in 2014,” said Drakatos. “Since that time I have come to know her as ‘Judge Linda’. At our bar and our board, the reference to ‘Judge Linda’ embraces love of the profession, work ethic, compassion, kindness and perseverance.
“Our bar is lucky to have Judge Teodosio serve as its president, and I have been lucky to have had her as my president-elect this past year,” said Drakatos, a partner at Yacobozzi | Drakatos in Columbus. “She has provided exceptional support during these challenging times, and plans to lead our bar as we adapt to our new normal.
“We have had a lot of Zoom meetings and a lot of planning from afar on how we can help the lawyers of Ohio and continue providing access to justice for all Ohioans. I look forward to serving under Judge Linda’s leadership.”
OSBA President-elect David Lefton described Judge Tucci Teodosio as someone who has “a positive attitude and outlook,” and is driven to find new ways to improve the profession.
Lefton first met Judge Tucci Teodosio while the two were serving on the OSBA Board of Governors.
“Throughout the three years I have known Judge Teodosio. She has played an important role in offering ideas and direction to our governing board and committees and has shown time and again that she is a motivated leader,” said Lefton, a partner at Barron Peck Bennie & Schlemmer Co. in Cincinnati.
“Judge Teodosio is serving as president of the OSBA at a time in which the association and profession have been affected by the pandemic and protests against racial violence.”
Under Judge Teodosio’s leadership, Lefton said the OSBA will work to achieve many pressing objectives, including successfully implementing a new business model to support members and sustain the organization as society moves to a new normal.
“We will also continue our efforts to enhance diversity, inclusion and equity in the legal profession, use technology and innovation to connect attorneys to the consumers who need them and offer new wellness resources for OSBA members,” said Lefton. 
A native of Canton, Ohio, Judge Tucci Teodosio received her bachelor’s degree in education and her juris doctorate from The University of Akron. She began her career as an associate at Nukes & Perantinides Co. (now Perantinides & Nolan Co.).
Prior to taking the juvenile court bench in 2003, she served as a Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court judge.
Throughout her career, she has been active in bar associations at the state and local level. She is an Ohio State Bar Foundation fellow and a former member of the OSBA Board of Governors, representing District 11 (Summit and Portage counties). In addition to serving as president of the Akron Bar Association, Judge Tucci Teodosio was on the board of trustees twice, once as a board member and once as an ex-officio member during her tenure on the OSBA Board of Governors. She is also a former board member and a past president of the Akron Bar Foundation.
Judge Tucci Teodosio has received a number of accolades over the years, including the OSBA’s Thomas J. Moyer Award for Judicial Excellence and the prestigious St. Thomas More award. 
The judge lives in Munroe Falls with her husband, 9th District Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Teodosio. Their son Christopher Teodosio is a partner at Brouse McDowell.
When she first took over as president-elect in July 2019, Judge Tucci Teodosio said she was focused on working with then-president Drakatos to attract and maintain members, enhance member benefits and wellness and address issues of access to justice.
“When the pandemic hit, the bar’s focus shifted to informing and assisting members in adapting to the day-to-day changes in the courts and in the ways in which they did business,” said Judge Tucci Teodosio. “The OSBA was prompt in recognizing the impact that the pandemic would have on the profession as well as on members of the public seeking legal services. We took these issues head on and were able to get guidance out to both Ohio attorneys and legal consumers to help them navigate all the changes and we continue to do so.
“In late March the legislature passed a tolling provision, automatically extending statutes of limitation and other deadlines for state civil, criminal and administrative proceedings,” she said. “Service and discovery deadlines along with those for indictments in criminal matters, preliminary hearings and issuance of warrants were also tolled from March 9 to July 30.
“The OSBA did an excellent job advocating for this provision and offered free remote CLEs to help our members understand how this and other laws that were related to COVID-19 affected them. The OSBA continues to advocate on behalf of its members for clarification of the ramifications of this tolling provision with the state legislature,” said Judge Tucci Teodosio.
“Through it all, the OSBA maintained close contact with the Supreme Court in order to keep members informed of similar tolling provisions in the Rules of Court that also affect the practice of law in Ohio.”
In addition to substantive law programs, the OSBA has also offered free CLEs to help members better understand how to use Zoom and other remote technology to conduct business and meet with clients.
“As much as I am a people person and enjoy meeting and interacting with everyone in person, I believe there are many opportunities during this crisis to take a hard look at how we can provide better services to our members by incorporating new technology going forward,” said Judge Tucci Teodosio. “For example, by holding our committee and section meetings on Zoom, it may be easier for our members to participate since it does not require them to take hours away from their work and drive to the location of the meeting.”
The Summit County Juvenile Court, where Judge Tucci Teodosio serves, is also utilizing technology to offer parties in most hearings, even those with pending motions, the option of participating remotely.
“We received a $12,996.39 COVID-specific remote technology grant that has allowed us to cover the cost of three mobile Zoom units, allowing at least some of the parties to participate remotely,” said Judge Tucci Teodosio.
In addition to dealing with the changes related to the pandemic, she said the OSBA is working to address the concerns of protesters.
On June 2, then-OSBA President Drakatos, Judge Tucci Teodosio and OSBA CEO Mary Amos Augsburger issued a statement regarding the ongoing protests.
It read in part, “At the OSBA, we don’t pretend to have the answers, but we want to be part of the solution by bringing members together and using our voice to advance change, while working alongside other bar associations, the community, government leaders and elected officials…
“The OSBA will be providing a series of educational programs about disparities in the law and its application, and how that impacts our colleagues and other Ohioans. We encourage you to join the conversation as leaders in your own communities and stay tuned for more ways to engage.”
“As an organization that is committed to the rule of law, it is incumbent upon us to play a role in educating the profession and society on issues of fairness and treatment,” Judge Tucci Teodosio said.
While the membership cycle is still in progress, Judge Tucci Teodosio said she’s optimistic that the organization will maintain a large majority of its members.
“The need to connect with other lawyers around the state in these changing times is more important than ever and the OSBA is able to provide those connections, even in this ‘virtual world.’ In addition, the OSBA will continue to proactively advocate for Ohio lawyers both to public policy makers and legal consumers,” Judge Tucci Teodosio said.
“We know that when consumers have access to quality legal services to help them navigate our legal system, they have more confidence in the rule of law and that justice is served.”


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