Login | June 17, 2025
Two common pleas specialty courts earn final certification
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: September 1, 2023
Two Summit County Common Pleas General Division Specialty Courts recently earned final certification from the Commission on Specialized Dockets.
In June, Judge Alison McCarty was informed that the reentry court that she presides over was re-certified by the commission for the period beginning on Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2026 and Common Pleas Presiding Judge Susan Baker Ross received news that the Veterans Treatment/Valor Court, which she recently took over, was certified through Dec. 31, 2025.
The commission, which has 22 members, advises the Ohio Supreme Court and its staff on all statewide rules and standards concerning specialized dockets, including the development and delivery of services and training for judges and court personnel, and makes all decisions regarding final certification.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy congratulated both judges and their teams on their success, explaining, “specialized dockets offer an alternative to incarceration, and reflect a community’s belief in second chances.
“They focus on people who are willing to work to overcome the personal challenges that led to their involvement in the justice system. The court and community partners work together to supervise treatment, training, and support, providing local solutions to local problems under leadership of the local court.”
There are currently 258 certified dockets in Ohio courts, which focus on areas ranging from substance use disorders and mental health to domestic violence, human trafficking and veterans issues.
In the case of the Valor Court, it was unveiled on Nov. 12, 2013 by former Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Amy Corrigall Jones to assist veterans suffering from physical and mental trauma who’ve become involved in the criminal justice system.
Veterans facing felony offenses who qualify for community control are eligible to participate in Valor Court, with prosecutorial and victim input, but Judge Baker Ross has the final say.
Judge Baker Ross, who began her term on the common pleas court in May 2019, has been presiding over the specialty court since August 2022.
“To be eligible, the individual must have a military history,” said Judge Baker Ross.
“Our clinical coordinator conducts a risk assessment and screening before admitting any veteran into the program,” said Judge Baker Ross. “We also determine whether the veteran is likely to benefit from the services and is amenable to treatment.”
There are approximately 42 participants in the program.
Each person is assigned to either the Alpha (high risk, high needs) or Bravo (lower risk, lower needs) docket, and can be in the program from 12 months to up to five years. However, on average, a participant is usually able to graduate in less than 18 months.
Participants are provided with wraparound services, including case management, access to housing, substance abuse and mental health treatment, jobs, peer recovery support and mentorship.
“It’s an honor to work with my team to help our veterans overcome the challenges that led to their involvement in our justice system,” said Judge Baker Ross. “While the court has been in place for years, this is my first certification as presiding judge.
“The court was in the process of recertification when I took over, so we worked with the Supreme Court to modify our application to add me as the presiding judge and then followed the normal process for certification,” said Judge Baker Ross.
“As someone who has been in recovery for 34 years, it’s truly wonderful to be in a position to help folks recover from their battle scars.”
Judge McCarty’s Reentry court is one of three such programs. The other two are presided over by judges Tammy O’Brien and Mary Margaret Rowlands.
A collaboration between the common pleas court general division, Adult Probation Department and Oriana House, the program has been in existence since Sept. 27, 2006.
Initially there was only one reentry court, presided over by then-Summit County Common Pleas Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, who started the program. Judge Stormer now serves on the Probate Court bench.
To be eligible a defendant must be under consideration for judicial release and have at least a minimum of a year left on his/her sentence.
Due to new standards defendants now need to either have a mental health or substance abuse diagnosis in order to participate.
“We take a variety of factors into consideration, including the nature of past offenses and whether they have gotten in trouble during their current prison sentence,” said Judge McCarty.
Prior to being granted judicial release, the individual is screened by a reentry probation officer using the ORAS-SRT (Ohio Risk Assessment System – Supplemental Reentry Tool).
If the judge agrees to admit the individual into the program, the participant is released from Summit County jail custody and is either allowed to go home or placed in a residential program at Oriana House, where the person undergoes treatment and/or receives other services, such as cognitive skills training.
“There are four phases to the program and participants are strictly monitored,” said Judge McCarty. “We require a great deal of each person in order for the individual to graduate from the program.
“Participants must appear regularly before the court, pay all financial obligations, find and maintain employment, and if substance use is an issue, maintain sobriety,” said Judge McCarty. “The program runs a minimum of one year but if the participant gets sanctions that will extend the time. If a participant accumulates too many sanctions, the person is returned to prison to complete any time left on his/her initial sentence.”
On average Judge McCarty’s court has between 15 to 25 participants.
“Due to COVID restrictions and because we did not send as many people to prison during that period of time who would now be asking for judicial release, our number is currently on the lower end of that at 15,” Judge McCarty said.
Judge McCarty said presiding over a specialty court is a very rewarding experience.
During her time on the Akron Municipal bench, she served as the drug court judge for four years (now known as Recovery Court) and founded the OVI Court in 2007.
The OVI Court has since been renamed ARCH (Active Recovery Creates Hope) Court and is now certified as a specialized docket as is the Recovery Court program.
“When I came to the Common Pleas Court and was given the chance to take over a Reentry Court, I welcomed the opportunity,” said Judge McCarty. “Normally judges do not have the ability to get to know defendants, but this program lets me interact with each participant and watch him or her make significant changes that will hopefully lead to a long-term sober and productive lifestyle.”