Skip to Content

New Judge Courtrooms: Judge Richard A. Bell is in 21-D.  Judge Andrew J. Santoli is in 21-A.  Judge William F.B. Vodrey is in 18-A.  Click here for complete Judge roster.   For COVID updates, please click here.

 

 x

Common Pleas Court Judges

Judge Richard A. Bell


Courtroom: 21-D
Bailiff:

Susan Jacobsen

(216) 443-8736
Staff Attorney:

Kristin Brown

(216) 443-8581
Magistrate: See Magistrate Assignments
On Common Pleas Bench Since: December 2020
Admitted to Bar: 1989
Residence: Solon
College: Kent State University
Law School: Cleveland Marshall College of Law

Legal Experience:


Law Clerk for Federal Public Defender

Law Clerk for Robert Dixon 

Criminal Defense Attorney

Staff Attorney Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Cuyahoga County

Supervisor of General Felony Unit, Diversion Unit, Major Trial Unit, Child Abuse Unit, and Elder Protection Unit

Chief over Community Based Prosecution Unit, Mortgage Fraud Task Force, Grand Jury Unit, Economic Crime Unit

Special Investigations Division Chief

  • Cold Case Unit Rape Kit Task Force, Human Trafficking, and Internet Crimes Against Children Units
  • Developed Risk Assessment Tool and advocated for Bail Reform
  • Created the Cold Case G.O.L.D. Unit 

 

Appointments:


Appointed by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor to the Joint Task Force to review the Administration of Capital cases.

Appointed and elected City of Solon Councilman.

Former President, Vice President and Secretary of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Government Attorney’s Section.

 

Awards:


Nominated for Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association Prosecutor of the Year by both Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Bill Mason (1996 and 2005)

City of Parma Recognition for John Leone RICO Prosecution

U.S. Department of Justice Recognition's: 2000 (Acid Burning case), 2001 (RICO)

2008 Cleveland Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Response Team Recognition Award

2016 Prosecutor Awards for leading the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and for Leading the Sexual Assault Kit Task Force