Justice Melody Stewart was elected in November 2018 as the 161st Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, making history as the first African American woman elected to the court. Before joining the Supreme Court, Justice Stewart served on the Eighth District Court of Appeals, where she was first elected to an unexpired term in 2006 and then twice reelected to full terms. In 2013, she served as the court’s Administrative Judge. 

With over 30 years of experience in administration, law, and academia, Justice Stewart has held diverse roles, including administrator for a healthcare management company, music teacher, civil defense litigator, and law school professor and administrator. Her academic achievements include a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music, a law degree from Cleveland State University’s College of Law as a Patricia Roberts Harris Fellow, and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University as a Mandel Leadership Fellow. Cleveland State University also awarded her an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. 

Justice Stewart’s legal career includes serving as an assistant law director for Cleveland and East Cleveland, and as a lecturer, adjunct instructor, and assistant dean at Cleveland State University College of Law. She has also taught at the University of Toledo College of Law and Ursuline College and was the director of student services at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. 

In addition to her judicial work, Justice Stewart has contributed to numerous boards and committees, including the Ohio Criminal Justice Recodification Committee, the Ohio Supreme Court’s Judicial College board, and the Ohio Capital Case Attorney Fee Council, where she served as chair. She has also been involved in civic and community organizations, demonstrating her commitment to public service and legal equity. Justice Stewart is admitted to practice in Ohio’s state and federal courts, the District of Columbia, and the United States Supreme Court. 

The Matriots are proud to endorse Justice Stewart for Ohio Supreme Court Justice.