Court News

The Judicial Council of the National Bar Association has recognized Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams as a recipient of their Sara J. Harper Humanitarian Award.

The Sara J. Harper Humanitarian Award is presented in recognition of consistent and unselfish contributions to the purposes and goals of the National Bar Association Judicial Council. Past honorees include Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Judge Frederica Wilson, Judge Piper G. Griffin, Judge Alfreda Talton-Harris, Judge Lauren C. Moore, and Judge Randa Trapp.

Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams joined the Bench in January of 2013 and is the just the fourth African-American woman to be elected to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division.

A release from the Judicial Council states that Judge Collier-Williams, “is known for her calm demeanor and her ability to move her docket efficiently.” Judge Collier-Williams works on numerous court committees as well as having served as a judge on the Mental Health Developmental Disabilities Docket for several years. Currently, Judge Collier-Williams is one of four Judges that also maintains a Commercial Law Docket for business-to-business litigation. 

Judge Collier-Williams is a Commissioner on the Ohio Supreme Court Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection and is one of the founding members and co-chair of the newly established Ohio Black Judges Association, Inc., an affiliate of the National Bar Association. She is a member of the William K. Thomas American Inn of Court, as well as a member of several organizations and bar associations.

Judge Collier-Williams also works on a number of committees on the State and Local level seeking bail reform, grand jury reform, and general outreach to the community to assist in the public’s needs. Judge Collier-Williams is a member of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association and is an instructor for Continuing Legal Education classes for lawyers and judges.