Vote Vodrey

Résumé

With Susan and two of our sons, after being sworn in as a magistrate of Cleveland Municipal Court (2001)
Meeting the President and Mrs. Obama (2010)
Receiving the Alumni Medal from Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar (2018)
Judging the Ohio High School Mock Trial regional competition (2020)
Being sworn in as a judge by Justice Melody Stewart of the Ohio Supreme Court (2021)
Conducting wedding ceremonies is one of the best parts of the job! Here I am with my friends Elodie and Kevin (2024)

JUDGE WILLIAM VODREY


Education

Oberlin College (B.A. 1987) – Honors in Government

      • Visiting Professor of Legal Advocacy, Law Scholars Program (2007-present)
      • Alumni Medal, for “outstanding, sustained, or unique service to Oberlin College” (2018)

Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D. 1992)

      • Distinguished Recent Graduate, Law Alumni Association (2002)
      • Mentor of the Year Award (2019)

Public Service

Judge, Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County (2021-present) – Serving on this countywide trial court, handling felony criminal cases and civil cases in which more than $15,000 is at issue

Magistrate, Cleveland Municipal Court (2001-2020) – Presided over both jury and bench trials; ruled in criminal, civil and traffic cases, including motions, objections and sentencing; wrote 21 officially-reported decisions

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Cuyahoga County (1995-2001) – Served in felony trial, Juvenile Court and child support units

Staff Attorney, Southeast Ohio Legal Services, New Philadelphia, Ohio (1993-1995) – Worked primarily on civil protection orders, domestic relations, and utility law issues for indigent clients; secretary of Natl. Organization of Legal Service Workers, UAW Local 2320

Private practice, Vodrey Law Firm, East Liverpool, Ohio (1992-1993) – Real estate and business law

Intern, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cleveland (Summer 1990); U.S. District Judge Alice M. Batchelder (Summer 1991)

Admitted to bars of U.S. Supreme Court, Supreme Court of Ohio, Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court for both Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio

Political Commitment

Volunteer for virtually every Democratic nominee for President of the United States and Governor of Ohio, as well as in other Democratic campaigns (1984-2001)

National Field Staff, Mike Dukakis for President (1987-1988) – Served in New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, and at Democratic National Convention in Atlanta

Member of and contributor to Cuyahoga County Democratic Party (1998-present)

Community Involvement

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights (1989-present) – Lector, Vestry, usher, Adult Forum Committee member, architectural tour guide

Member, National Episcopal Court of Review, the highest appellate tribunal for ecclesiastical trials of priests and deacons (2019-2023)

Cleveland Flag Project – Member, Flag Selection Committee (2024-present)

Shaker Heights High School (2013-present) – Legal advisor, Mock Trial Club

Cleveland Civil War Roundtable (1995-present) – Member; former president and board member

Supreme Court of Ohio, Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program (2008-present) – Mentor to young lawyers

American Constitution Society, Northeast Ohio Chapter (2008-2023) – Board member

Greater Cleveland Congregations (2011-present) – Member

Boy Scout Troop 662, Shaker Heights (2012-present) – Committee member, merit badge counselor

Eagle Scout, Troop 11, East Liverpool, Ohio (1981)

Personal

Married to Susan Carnahan Vodrey since 1990; they have three adult sons.