Honorable Judge Susan Baker Ross

Judge Susan Baker Ross earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Management from the University of Akron, and her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Akron School of Law, and was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Ohio in November, 1991.

She currently brings 35 years of knowledge and experience to the bench, which includes:
• Legal Intern with the City of Akron Law Department from 1989-1992
• Assistant Prosecutor in the Civil Division of the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office from 1992-1997 and the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office from 2001-2010
• Judicial Attorney/Magistrate and then Traffic Court Magistrate for the Akron Municipal Court from 2012-2019, and
• Private law practice on and off throughout the years focusing on criminal defense, wills and guardianships, contracts, and domestic relations.
• Judge for the Summit County Common Pleas Court since May, 2019.

Judge Baker Ross has served as Presiding Judge of the Common Pleas Court since February, 2023, and in that role oversees the Jury and Grand Jury proceedings for the Court. Since then she has implemented expanding jury service beyond registered voters to also include those with Driver’s Licenses and State ID’s. She also oversees efforts to improve the jury experience for those selected to serve and to ensure that Jurors are provided with resources to assist them should they have secondary trauma as a result of their service.

Judge Baker Ross was selected to serve as Presiding Judge over the Summit County Valor Court in August, 2022. Valor Court recognizes that many of our veterans return to civilian life with serious trauma, both physical and mental, which may lead to their involvement with the criminal justice system. In Valor court, veterans are given access to programs, treatment and interaction with mentors in a collaborative initiative to enhance chances of success.

Judge Baker Ross currently serves on the Ohio Judicial Conference Judicial Advisory Group, Criminal Law and Procedure and Civil Law and Procedure committees. Additionally, she is a member of the Lawyer’s Assistance Committee of the Akron Bar Association, Leadership Akron Signature Class 35, ATHENA International, the League of Women Voters, and she is a lifetime member of the NAACP. Judge Baker Ross also provides the required Substance Abuse Education to the University of Akron Law School students twice a year.

Other honors she has received include: Freedom House for Women 2022 Leadership Award, Limitless Ambition 2020 Ladies of Legacy award, Outstanding Committee Chair Award 2019-2020 from the Akron Bar Association for her dedication as Co-Chair of the Lawyers Assistance Committee for over ten years, 2019 Celebration of Life Awardee with the Final Farewell Project, and 2019 Ohio Association of Magistrates Award.

She has previously served as a member of the Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, Summit County Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, and the Women’s Network Board. On a community level, she served the Girl Scouts as a Leader for 10 years, as District Coordinator, as District Cookie Chair and as a Cookie Cupboard for the Mogadore community. Additionally, she was a devoted volunteer in the Mogadore community as a board member on the Youth Football, Athletic Boosters and Band Boosters, and the Village of Mogadore as Councilwoman, and member of the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Judge Baker Ross is grateful to be in long term recovery since July 19, 1989. Having lived through some difficult circumstances in her lifetime, she is grateful to share her 35 years of experience, strength, and hope with those who come before her on the bench and to encourage those in crisis to see a fresh future for themselves.