Evelyn Lundberg Stratton

Evelyn Lundberg Stratton is an American jurist. She is currently a justice on the Ohio Supreme Court.

Background and education

Evelyn Lundberg Stratton was born to missionary parents in Bangkok, Thailand on February 25, 1953. She attended missionary boarding schools in South Vietnam and Malaysia and graduated from the Dalat School in Tanah Rata, Malaysia in 1971. She graduated from the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, in 1976. She received a law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1979. [http://www.strattonforsupremecourt.com/?page=about_justice_stratton]

Experience

From 1979 to 1987, Stratton was a trial attorney in private practice in Columbus, Ohio. In 1987, she was the first woman elected as judge on the Franklin County Common Pleas Court in Columbus, Ohio. She was reelected in 1992. As a trial judge, Stratton earned the nickname, "Velvet Hammer," for her approach to sentencing in serious felony cases.

Supreme Court of Ohio

In 1996, Ohio’s then-Governor George Voinovich appointed Stratton to fill the term of Justice Craig Wright on the Supreme Court of Ohio. Stratton was elected to a 6-year term in November 1996 and re-elected in 2002. She has been a justice on the Supreme Court for 12 years.

Community Involvement

Justice Stratton is also committed to her community. During her tenure on the Supreme Court of Ohio, she has participated not only in the state's most significant court decisions, but also has worked beyond the courtroom to make lasting contributions to the justice system both in Ohio and at the national level. In May 2008, she received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor for her work on mental health courts and adoption reforms. [http://www.ohiogop.org/press/articles/2008/05/justice-evelyn-stratton-awarded-ellis-island-medal-honor Justice Evelyn Stratton Awarded Ellis Island Medal of Honor]

Major Accomplishments

Mental health courts

Justice Stratton formed the Supreme Court of Ohio Advisory Committee on Mental Illness and the Courts, a task force that includes mental health, legal and criminal justice professionals from around the state. The Advisory Committee focuses on mental health initiatives in the court system and how to effectively implement such programs.

Justice Stratton also leads several national efforts toward helping persons with mental illness. She co-founded and is a past co-chair of the Judges' Leadership Initiative, which supports mental health efforts. She co-chairs the Returning Home Advisory Commission, which assists in the re-entry by persons from jails and prisons in order to reduce recidivism and its cost to society.

Adoption

Justice Stratton has been a leading Ohio advocate for children in need. As a member of the Board of Trustees of the [http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/ Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption] , she has been dedicated to the Foundation's efforts, particularly as to reforms in the legal system, and in the establishment of the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption Law, now the [http://www.law.capital.edu/adoption/ National Center for Adoption Law] , at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.

Justice Stratton is a nationally recognized leader in adoption reform. In 2000, she authored the appellate rules and amendments to the Supreme Court of Ohio Rules of Practice that expedite appeals in adoption and child welfare cases. As a result, all Ohio appellate courts now adhere to much shorter timelines in these sensitive cases. Ohio's appellate system has had a substantial impact and is a recognized model for other states.

On behalf of the National Center for State Courts, Justice Stratton chaired a national effort to assist appellate courts nationwide in developing and enacting their own expedited appellate rules for adoption and child welfare cases. Chief Justices in all 50 states responded to her request to designate a key leader to work with her committee on improving the adoption process in their respective states. As a result, 43 states now have in process some form of expedited appeals.

Court security

Justice Stratton was co-chair of the Ohio Court Security project whose goal was to ensure that all Ohio courtrooms are safe and secure places where disputes may be resolved and justice achieved. The project was funded by an $11 million appropriation from the Ohio General Assembly. The project resulted in recommendations for improvements, training for judges, court employees and court security personnel, and grants for needed security equipment. Because of the heightened security needs for courts since September 11, 2001, Ohio’s upgraded court security system is ahead of its time in preparedness.

Judicial education

Justice Stratton worked with the [http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/judcoll/ Ohio Judicial College] to develop a course for new Ohio judges that includes practical information on a wide range of topics. As a result, resources are available to new judges in Ohio to enhance their effectiveness.

In addition to teaching new judges, Justice Stratton is a frequent lecturer at the National Judicial College and at judicial and legal seminars. She frequently speaks to other groups and the general public to educate them about the judiciary. She especially enjoys sharing her insights with students and tries to inspire them to believe they can achieve their goals by sharing her story of coming to America with only $500 and working her way through college and law school.

Improving Criminal Justice

Justice Stratton served on the Board of Trustees and the Advisory Council for the Children for a Safe America Foundation, whose purpose is to help kids deal with violence through the use of art, writing, and expression.

Justice Stratton is active in the [http://www.ojacc.org/ Ohio Justice Alliance for Community Corrections] (formerly Ohio Community Corrections Organization), an association that works to improve cooperation, coordination and resources among the many groups that deal with community corrections as an alternative to prison. Justice Stratton is committed to turn around the lives of those in the criminal justice system which also decreases the cost to society and increases public safety. She believes that this is not being soft on crime but rather smart on crime.

Saving sight

Justice Stratton has been involved in [http://www.preventblindness.org/Ohio/ Prevent Blindness Ohio] . She served as chair of the state board for two years. PBO provides vision screening for all ages, free eye exams and eyeglasses for needy children and adults, and promotes eye safety at home, in sports and at work.

References

External links

* [http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/Justices/stratton Justice Stratton's official biography]
* [http://www.strattonforsupremecourt.com Justice Stratton's campaign website]