Login | February 15, 2025
Muni court presiding/admin Judge Hamilton unveils his agenda
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: February 14, 2025
It’s been just weeks since Akron Municipal Court Judge David Hamilton was elected to serve as administrative/presiding judge, but he’s already created an extensive to-do list that includes plans to make the facility more inclusive and accessible, while adding new services to make things easier for those who come to court.
Judge Hamilton officially assumed his role on Jan. 1, taking the reins from Judge Annalisa S. Williams who was the administrative/presiding judge in 2024.
In his new capacity Judge Hamilton is charged with overseeing the administrative functioning of the court, its docket and calendar as well as the observance of the rules of superintendence and the timely reporting and termination of all cases in the court.
It’s the second time he was elected by his fellow judges to serve as administrative/presiding judge and he said it’s an honor he doesn’t take lightly.
“I appreciate my fellow judges and our entire team at the Akron Municipal Court for their confidence in me once again,” said Judge Hamilton, who held the title in 2023. “By working together, I am positive we can achieve all our goals.”
The last time Judge Hamilton was the administrative/presiding judge, he oversaw the court’s move to the Oliver Ocasek Building, which he said provides additional space to the community, attorneys and other legal professionals.
“I’m very excited about our new space,” said Judge Hamilton. “We moved here just over a year ago. Now I’m looking to find creative ways to use the new facility. It feels as though I’ve come full circle.”
For example, in late January a universal changing table was installed on the first floor inside the Mother’s Room.
The motorized adult-sized table can be raised and lowered according to an individual’s height, weight or level of mobility, enabling caregivers to easily accommodate the personal needs of infants, the elderly, those with disabilities or medical conditions right on the premises.
“We worked with the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board to fully fund this initiative using ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) grant dollars,” said Akron Municipal Court Community Outreach and Grants Coordinator Nicole Hagy.
“We are extremely excited to bring a universal changing station to the courthouse, which makes the building more inclusive for everyone,” said Judge Hamilton. “I believe we are the first courthouse in the country to have this changing station.”
In addition to working to make the building more accessible, Judge Hamilton will oversee the final phase of the court’s transition to a new state-of-the-art case management system.
Tyler Technologies’ Odyssey Case Management System will allow litigants to receive text notifications about upcoming proceedings and further streamline the functioning of the court.
For example, said Judge Hamilton, it will enable the court to conduct more hearings virtually as judges will be able to access the software off site.
It will also allow the court to incorporate 21st century technology like electronic signatures, he said.
“We are currently operating on a Legacy Case Management system from 1987, and we are long overdue for an upgrade,” said Judge Hamilton.
“Our Probation Department has been utilizing the new system since August 2022 and the results have been very positive,” said Judge Hamilton. “We expect to have the entire system go live this summer or by early fall.
“The ultimate goal is for us to eventually go paperless.”
A native of Summit County, Judge Hamilton took the bench in December 2019 and was re-elected in 2023.
The University of Akron graduate earned his juris doctor from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2012.
Judge Hamilton started his career as a field organizer in Akron and Cuyahoga Falls for Organizing for America, where he worked for former President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, later taking on the role of NAACP legal chair for the Akron chapter of the organization under past president Ophelia Averitt, advising inmates on their civil rights.
He then served as an assistant prosecutor for the city of Akron from January 2013 to January 2016.
In the spring of 2016, Judge Hamilton became a volunteer CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and a court-appointed attorney guardian ad litem for the Summit County Probate and Juvenile courts. He also started as an associate at Littlejohn Law, where he focused on real estate, estate planning and domestic relations matters.
Prior to taking the bench, Judge Hamilton was also a member of Summit County Council and served as a judicial attorney to Akron Municipal Judge Ron Cable.
In addition to his duties as administrative/presiding judge, he continues to hear a full caseload and run the two court-sponsored programs he started, which include COMPASS (Compassion, Opportunity, Mentoring, Purpose, Achievement, Success, Stepping forward) and Raising the Bar.
Unveiled on Nov. 2, 2020, the now diversionary program COMPASS helps men who’ve recently become involved in the criminal justice system get their lives back on track.
Raising the Bar was begun as a pilot program in conjunction with Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s office in October 2022. It is designed to expose minority high school students to the legal profession and the many different career opportunities within it.
“Both of these programs are going strong,” said Judge Hamilton. “COMPASS has close to 40 graduates, with most having their cases dismissed, records sealed, and fines and court costs waived.
“Some of the students who went through Raising the Bar are now starting to fill out their college applications and have said they have an interest in pursuing a career in law. I will be watching their progress.
“I’m very excited to host the next Raising the Bar session in our courthouse on March 29. It will be the first time the program was held inside our new building.”
Judge Hamilton said he will also continue to monitor the grant application process.
“Our specialized dockets and housing program rely heavily on grants dollars,” he said. “Our grants also enable us to continue to upgrade our technology.
“My hope is to see these grant dollars increase and I will be keeping an eye on things to make sure we don’t miss any deadlines and that we apply for as many grants as possible to continue to fund our programs that are helping our community.”
A graduate of Leadership Akron Class 34 and Leadership Ohio, he was appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism in 2023 and serves on the board of ArtsNow.
Judge Hamilton has served as an adjunct professor at The University of Akron School of Law since last summer.
In 2024, he received Leadership Ohio’s Community Impact Award and became one of 25 professionals in the Akron/Canton region to earn an Accent on Excellence award from the National Sales & Marketing Executives Akron/Canton.
His other accolades include the Akron Bar Association Diversity Award, the Judge Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award in Law and the Akron Urban League’s Rising Star Award in 2022.
In addition, he received a 30 for the Future Award from the Greater Akron Chamber in 2020 and was a Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 honoree in 2019.
“I think we have a great group of judges and court staff and with their help I’m looking to get a lot done this year,” said Judge Hamilton.