The News-Herald

Election Questionnaire

Date questionnaire completed: 9-28-14

Office sought: Judge, 11th District Ct of

Appeals
Political party: Democrat
Name: Timothy P. Cannon
Age: 59 Date of birth: June, 1955
Place of birth: Painesville, Ohio
Home address: 1714 West Jackson St., Painesville
Length of residence in that community: 59 years Twitter: NA
Facebook: Re-elect Judge Timothy Cannon Campaign Web site:
www.reelectjudgecannon.com
Occupation: Judge, 11th District Court of Appeal Employer: State of Ohio
Business address: 111 High St. NE, Warren, Ohio 44481
Elected office experience: 1980-1993, Lake County Board of Education. 1993-1997,
Painesville Township Trustee. 2007-present, Judge, 11 th District Court of Appeals.
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Non-elected office experience (boards, etc.):
Director First Merit Bank Northeast Region 1998-2007; Lake Catholic High School Endowment
Board 1997-2007; Past Member Lakeland Community College Foundation Board; Leadership
Lake County charter class 1987; Past Member - Lake County Mental Health Center Board of
Trustees; Past Member - Catholic Service Bureau Board of Directors; Former member LakeGeauga FOPA; Past Trustee, Lake County Blue Coats, Inc.

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Education (Please only list schools youve graduated from and list degrees if applicable):
St. Joseph High School, 1973
John Carroll University, 1977 BA
Cleveland State University John Marshall College of Law, 1980 JD
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Marital status: Married Name of spouse: Lisa
Name and age of any children: Geoff age 32. Sarah age 31
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Organizations: Ohio Court of Appeals Judges Association; Ohio State Bar Association; Lake,
Ashtabula, Geauga, Portage, and Trumbull County Bar Associations; CCJSCA (Council of
Chief Judges of State Courts of Appeals); Painesville Knights of Columbus; Elks Lodge 549
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Should you be elected, what are three specific areas youd like to change, address, improve
or further research, and how specifically would you go about it?:
1. Our court is in need of an upgrade to our Case Management System software. We
have begun the process of converting to the Ohio Supreme Court web-based
program, but it will be some time before that can be completed. This program helps
us to keep track of cases, and centralize information regarding the status and due
dates for each case.
2. We can always improve on the time it takes us to dispose of cases before us. As
Administrative Judge, I helped implement a scheduling change which resulted in our
cases being heard between 2 and 4 months earlier than in the past. My opponent has
quoted statistics that suggest our time to dispose of cases is ranked lower than it was
in 2007, but that is incorrect. It appears he is quoting from the Supreme Court
statistics that relate to clearance of cases, which has nothing to do with disposing of a
case within time guidelines. The clearance rate of cases simply compares the number
of cases you start the year with to the number of cases pending at the end of the
year. The upgraded Case Management System and our case tracking process will
assist in getting cases disposed of in a more efficient and timely manner.
3. We are continuing to move toward the process of achieving electronic filing. Since we
have five counties in our jurisdiction, all counties need to be ready to implement the
system. We have made significant progress to date. Currently, the clerks in all five
counties scan and digitally store all documents filed. We should pattern our electronic
filing after the model currently used in the federal courts. The electronic filing will
result in more efficiency and substantial savings.
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Whether for past accomplishments or future goals, why should voters elect you?
I have been an attorney for the past 34 years. I am in my eighth year as Judge in the
Court of Appeals. This is my fourth year as the Presiding/Administrative Judge. When I
started as judge in 2007, I had a very broad base of experience in a variety of areas. I
served as a prosecutor and defense attorney, a plaintiff and defense attorney, and
represented several public entities. Litigation was a significant portion of my practice.
As a judge, I have received many appointments from the Ohio Supreme Court,
including twice as a visiting justice. I was also chosen by the Chief Justice to chair the
Advisory Committee on Case Management. This committee will be making
recommendations to the Supreme Court regarding time standards for disposition of cases
for each court in the state. The Supreme Court also asked me to lecture for the last two
sessions of new judge orientation for the incoming new appellate judges. I was also
requested to sit as a visiting judge in other appellate districts in the state.
In the Court of Appeals, we do not engage with members of the general public or
litigants to the extent the municipal or common pleas courts do. We deal almost exclusively
with the attorneys. As a result, it is the attorneys who know best whether or not we are
doing a good job. There are two local bar associations that have evaluated my performance
as a judge. In Lake County, I received a 100% affirmative vote from the members of the bar.
Apparently it is the first time in the 30 plus history of the bar poll that any judge or
candidate received this result. In addition, the Trumbull County Bar Association
overwhelmingly voted that I be considered the preferred candidate.
I believe the ratings are a result of the fact that as a judge I have demonstrated an
even temperament, a good knowledge of the law, been well prepared for the cases that
come before me, and made decisions based on the law and not any outside influences. It
would be a privilege to serve another term.

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NOTE TO CANDIDATES: Please be aware that this questionnaire will be published.