Susan is originally from Westerville, Ohio. She has a bachelor's degree in management and a law degree from the University of Akron.

Susan previously worked as a traffic court magistrate and judicial attorney magistrate of the Akron Municipal Court. She also worked as an assistant prosecutor with the Civil Division of the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office and the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Susan Baker Ross currently serves as a Judge of the Summit County Common Pleas Court and of the Summit County Valor Court. She was elected to this position in 2018 and is serving her first term. She also serves as the Presiding Judge of the Common Pleas Court. She was named to that position in 2022. She previously served as a councilperson of the Village of Mogadore for 2 years.

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As a court of common pleas judge for 5 years, Ross reviews the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issues marriage licenses, administers divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversees criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parentless.

Worked as an 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.

As an assistant prosecutor of the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office for 5 years, Ross oversaw civil and criminal prosecutions, presented pre-trial motions in court, prepared cases for trial, produced legal research, opinions, and documents, and conducted interviews with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officials.

As an assistant prosecutor of the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office for 10 years, Ross oversaw civil and criminal prosecutions, presented pre-trial motions in court, prepared cases for trial, produced legal research, opinions, and documents, and conducted interviews with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officials.

Served as a judicial attorney/magistrate and traffic court magistrate for the Akron Municipal Court from 2012 to 2019.

As a municipal court magistrate, Ross oversaw cases involving traffic offenses and local ordinance violations, conducted preliminary hearings in criminal cases, issued search and arrest warrants, and determined sentencing in certain minor criminal cases.

As a Traffic Court Magistrate with the Akron Municipal Court for 2 years, Ross administered Traffic Court arraignments, misdemeanor trials, and administrative driving privileges hearings and implemented and oversaw the License Intervention Program at the Court.

Has experience in criminal defense, wills and guardianships, contracts, and domestic relations.

As an attorney at lawyer at Susan Baker Ross, Esq for 3 years, Ross focused on criminal defense, wills and guardianships, contracts, and domestic relations.

Served as Presiding Judge over the Summit County Valor Court since 2022.

- As a court of common pleas judge for 5 years, Ross reviews the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issues marriage licenses, administers divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversees criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parentless.
- As an assistant prosecutor of the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office for 5 years, Ross oversaw civil and criminal prosecutions, presented pre-trial motions in court, prepared cases for trial, produced legal research, opinions, and documents, and conducted interviews with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officials.
- As an assistant prosecutor of the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office for 10 years, Ross oversaw civil and criminal prosecutions, presented pre-trial motions in court, prepared cases for trial, produced legal research, opinions, and documents, and conducted interviews with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officials.
- As a municipal court magistrate, Ross oversaw cases involving traffic offenses and local ordinance violations, conducted preliminary hearings in criminal cases, issued search and arrest warrants, and determined sentencing in certain minor criminal cases.
- As a Traffic Court Magistrate with the Akron Municipal Court for 2 years, Ross administered Traffic Court arraignments, misdemeanor trials, and administrative driving privileges hearings and implemented and oversaw the License Intervention Program at the Court.
- As an attorney at lawyer at Susan Baker Ross, Esq for 3 years, Ross focused on criminal defense, wills and guardianships, contracts, and domestic relations.
- Served as Presiding Judge over the Summit County Valor Court since 2022.

Legal Experience

As a judicial administrator, implemented policies to expand jury service eligibility to include individuals with driver's licenses and state IDs.

As a Court of Common Pleas judge, Ross implemented policies to expand jury service eligibility to include individuals with driver's licenses and state IDs.

- As a Court of Common Pleas judge, Ross implemented policies to expand jury service eligibility to include individuals with driver's licenses and state IDs.

Judicial Administration

Believes in balancing justice and accountability with reducing repeat offenses and helping guide individuals to improve their lives.

Focuses on balancing justice and accountability with efforts to reduce repeat offenses and helping guide individuals to "a better path."

- Focuses on balancing justice and accountability with efforts to reduce repeat offenses and helping guide individuals to "a better path."

Judicial Philosophy

As of June 24, 2025, Susan Baker Ross’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Served as a former District Cookie Chairperson with Girl Scouts of America.

- Served as a former District Cookie Chairperson with Girl Scouts of America.

Community Involvement

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Susan Baker Ross

Roderick Linton Belfance LLP, Susan Steinhaur

Susan has a bachelor's degree in business and marketing from Miami University and a law degree from Indiana University School of Law. She has 2 children.

Susan currently works as a partner at Roderick Linton Belfance, LLP. She previously worked as an attorney at John S. Steinhauer, Esq., and as a chief legal officer at White Hat Management.

Susan K Steinhauer previously served as a Summit County Common Pleas Judge. She was named to this position in 2001 and served for 1 full term. She was re-appointed to her prior position in 2021 but did not serve a full term.

As a court of common pleas judge, Steinhauer reviewed the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issued marriage licenses, administered divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversaw criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parentless.

As a partner at Roderick Linton Belfance, LLP., Steinhauer managed key client relationships, pursued new clients, mentored junior lawyers, oversaw certain areas of legal practice, provided legal counsel on behalf of clients, performed legal research, and engaged with corporate clients to provide legal opinions on matters including HR, contracts, litigation, regulatory compliance, employment law, real estate, electronic discovery, and IT.

- As a court of common pleas judge, Steinhauer reviewed the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issued marriage licenses, administered divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversaw criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parentless.
- As a partner at Roderick Linton Belfance, LLP., Steinhauer managed key client relationships, pursued new clients, mentored junior lawyers, oversaw certain areas of legal practice, provided legal counsel on behalf of clients, performed legal research, and engaged with corporate clients to provide legal opinions on matters including HR, contracts, litigation, regulatory compliance, employment law, real estate, electronic discovery, and IT.

As of June 24, 2025, Susan K. Steinhauer did not have a website or any information online.

Member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization.

- Member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization.

Susan K. Steinhauer

- The Court of Common Pleas handles criminal felony cases and civil cases where more than $5,000 is at stake.
- The courts are divided into four divisions: general, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile. Each specializes in different types of cases, such as civil and criminal trials, divorces and child custody matters, inheritances and adoptions, and juvenile offenses.
- Ohio has a court of common pleas in each of its 88 counties.
- Common pleas judges are elected to six-year terms in nonpartisan elections.
- Common pleas judges earn $163,792 annually.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge

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Legal Experience

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Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement