Lorain
Lorain County Court of Common Pleas
About the Court of Common Pleas:
Location: 225 Court St., Elyria, OH 44035
The court of common pleas, the only trial court created b y the Ohio Constitution, is established by Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution, and its duties are outlined in Article IV, Section 4.
There is a court of common pleas in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. Specific courts of common pleas may be divided into separate divisions by the General Assembly, including general, domestic relations, juvenile and probate divisions. Common pleas judges are elected to six-year terms on a nonpartisan ballot. A person must be an attorney with at least six years of experience in the practice of law to be elected or appointed to the court. Criminal jurisdiction includes all crimes defined by statute as felonies, as well as certain other criminal offenses.
Court Judges:
Judge Mark A. Betleski
Born: January 17, 1958
Residence: North Ridgeville, Ohio
High School: Lorain Catholic High School, 1976
College: The Ohio State University, B.A. Psychology 1982
Law School: University of Toledo, College of Law
• Cum Laude 1986
• Order of the Coif
Admitted to Bar: 1986
On the Bench since: January 3, 1999
Legal Experience: Civil Litigation, Employment Law, Probate
Courtroom: #711
Fax: (440) 329-5729
Staff Information
Lisette Gracia
Criminal Secretary
(440) 329-5722
Terry Zirzow
Civil Secretary
(440) 329-5723
Mike Szekely
Bailiff
(440) 329-5758
Kim Meyers
Staff Attorney/Magistrate
(440) 329-5725
Jackie Waldron
Official Court Reporter
(440) 329-5727
Judge James M. Burge
Born: January 25, 1947
Residence: Avon Lake, OH
High School: Lorain High School, 1965
College: Kent State University, 1969
Law School: Cleveland State University, 1975
Admitted to Bar: November 7, 1975
On the Bench since: January 3, 2007
Legal Experience: 31 years of Private Practice
• background in Criminal Defense
Courtroom: #705
Fax: (440) 329-5712
Staff Information
Jackie Rentas
Criminal Secretary
(440) 329-5416
Maureen Martincin
Civil Secretary
(440) 329-5417
Joe Tackett
Bailiff/Mediator
(440) 329-5425
James L. Blaszak
Staff Attorney/Magistrate
(440) 329-5415
Tracy Reiman
Official Court Reporter
(440) 329-5424
Judge Raymond J. Ewers
Born: January 31, 1961
Residence: Lorain, Ohio
High School: Lorain High School
College: Heidelberg College
Law School: Cleveland Marshall College of Law
Admitted to Bar: November, 1988
On the Bench since: January 1, 2007
Legal Experience: Private General Practice 1988-2006; Amherst Prosecutor 1992-1996, Assistant Law Director 1991-2006
Courtroom: #605
Fax: (440) 329-5731
Staff Information
Deborah McKiel
Criminal Secretary
(440) 329-5519
Bonnie Spencer
Civil Secretary
(440) 329-5518
Amy Barnes
Bailiff
(440) 329-5523
Kristen Mackintosh
Staff Attorney/Magistrate
(440) 329-5521
Janis Albert
Official Court Reporter
(440) 329-5520
Judge James L. Miraldi
Born: 1951
Residence: Lorain, Ohio
High School: Lorain High School, 1969
College: College of Wooster, B.A. History 1973
• Phi Beta Kappa
Law School: Duke University School of Law, J.D. 1977
• Order of the Coif
Admitted to Bar: 1977
On the Bench since: 2007
Legal Experience: 29 years of private practice
• Firm of Miraldi and Barrett
Courtroom #708
Fax: (440) 328-2396
Staff Information
Christine McKay
Criminal Secretary
(440) 328-2389
Rachel Velez
Civil Secretary
(440)328-2390
Timothy Jenkins
Bailiff
(440) 328-2391
Linda Butler
Staff Attorney/Magistrate
(440) 328-2393
Aneta Fine
Official Court Reporter
(440) 328-2392
Judge Christopher R. Rothgery
Born: August 3, 1960 El Paso, Texas
Residence: Lorain, Ohio
High School: Elyria Catholic High School, 1978
College: Bowling Green State University
• B.S. in Criminal Justice
Law School: Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1988
Admitted to Bar: November, 1988
On the Bench since: January 2, 2005
Legal Experience: 16 years of private practice
• Engaged primarily in Criminal Defense
• Wife of 20 years, Linda (Janik) Rothgery
Courtroom: #602
Fax: (440) 329-5700
Staff Information
Yolanda Williams
Criminal Secretary
(440) 329-5574
Cathy Camera
Civil Secretary
(440) 329-5571
Rob Bennett
Bailiff
(440) 329-5572
Joseph Falbo
Staff Attorney/Magistrate
(440) 329-5573
Angela Riley
Official Court Reporter
(440) 329-5566
Judge John R. Miraldi
Born: August 15, 1960
Residence: Elyria, Ohio
High School: Lorain Catholic High School
College: Heidelberg College, B.A. Business
Administration Political Science
Law School: University of Toledo, College of Law
Admitted to Bar: 1987
On the Bench since: NA
Legal Experience: Civil Litigation
Courtroom: #702
Fax: (440) 329-5562
Staff Information
Jamie McCartney
Criminal Secretary
(440) 329-5560
Traci Orlando
Civil Secretary
(440) 329-5561
Lee Cannaday
Bailiff
(440) 329-5554
Stephen Vanek
Staff Attorney/Magistrate
(440) 329-5565
Cathlene Camp
Official Court Reporter
(440) 329-5564
Adult Probation
Main Line: (440) 326-4700
Beth Cwalina
Chief Probation Officer
(440) 326-4718
[email protected]
Julie Battistelli
Office Manager
(440) 326-4720
[email protected]
Bobbi DeBruler
Probation Officer
(440) 326-4722
[email protected]
Elizabeth Foster
Administrative Assistant
(440) 326-4704
[email protected]
Nicole Fitzgerald
Laboratory Secretary
(440) 329-5635
[email protected]
Jennifer Layfield
Presentence Investigator
(440) 328-2130
[email protected]
Sarah Malik
Case Manager-Program Facilitator
(440) 326-4714
[email protected]
Abbey Spooner
P.S.I. Unit Coordinator
(440) 328-2120
[email protected]
Anthony Stanovich
Case Manager-Program Facilitator
(440) 326-4714
[email protected]
Jillian Paynter
Secretary/P.S.I Unit
(440) 328-2119
[email protected]
Jennifer Parker
Presentence Investigator
(440) 328-2129
[email protected]
Michael Piedmonte
Presentence Investigator
(440) 328-2122
[email protected]
Siobhan Kurtz
Presentence Investigator
(440) 328-2127
[email protected]
Cindy Pendergrass
Presentence Investigator
(440) 328-2126
[email protected]
Kenneth Kelleher
Presentence Investigator
(440) 328-2124
[email protected]
Carolyn Liszak
ISP Officer
(440) 326-4706
[email protected]
John Machovina
Senior Probation Officer
(440) 326-4730
[email protected]
Matthew Miller
Probation Officer
(440) 326-4726
[email protected]
Peter Newbert
Misd. Probation Officer
(440) 326-4717
[email protected]
Dawn Resar
Senior Probation Officer
(440) 326-4731
[email protected]
Gail Rogers
Administrative Assistant
(440) 326-4703
[email protected]
Charles Schaffer
Probation Officer
(440) 326-4721
[email protected]
Shanna Rose
Probation Officer
(440) 326-4709
[email protected]
Bryan Thomas
Misd. Probation Officer
(440) 326-4716
[email protected]
Therese Ward
Intervention Officer
(440) 326-4719
[email protected]
Lorain County Clerk of Common Pleas Court
Office of Ron Nabakowski Lorain County Clerk of Common Pleas
Lorain County Justice Center
225 Court St., 1st Floor
Elyria, OH 44035
General Information on Clerk’s Office:
The Clerk of Court of Common Pleas is responsible for various administrative and ministerial duties in conjunction with the Court of Common Pleas. These duties include record creation, record maintenance, record reporting and record retention of the activities of the court and the issuance of process. The Clerk is responsible for the receipt and disbursement of all money paid into the court system.
Lorain County Justice Center, 1st Floor
225 Court Street
Elyria, Ohio 44035
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Criminal Division, Room 106 (criminal case filings, post bail bonds)
PHONE: 440-329-5538
FAX: 440-329-5404