Judge Michelle Sheehan of the Eighth District Court of Appeals was honored to sit by assignment once again at the Supreme Court of Ohio during October’s oral arguments.

“It is a privilege to work with the justices and high caliber of attorneys who are presenting their cases, and it is an honor to be part of shaping the rule of law in Ohio,” Judge Sheehan said.

She heard two cases during her assignment: In the Matter of the Application of Columbia Gas of Ohio Inc., Case No. 2024-1548, and State of Ohio v. Michael Jones, Case No. 2024-1768. She sat in for Justice Joseph T. Deters, who recused himself from the cases. The Ohio Constitution allows the chief justice to appoint an appellate judge to hear a case when there is a recusal.

Love of Appellate Law
Judge Sheehan grew up in the Cleveland area. With no attorneys in her family, she was pushed toward the profession instead by her high school teachers and mentors. As she was determining her career path, two appellate judges took her under their wing as an intern, then later as an extern. This experience led Judge Sheehan to emphasize the value of mentorship throughout her career.

After earning her bachelor's degree at Miami University and her J.D. at Cleveland State University College of Law, Judge Sheehan worked as a civil practitioner for a litigation firm. During her 25 years with the firm, she fell in love with appellate law and was certified as a specialist by the Ohio State Bar Association.

“I had the privilege of arguing appellate cases before the Ohio Supreme Court, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and almost every appellate court in the state of Ohio,” she noted.

She was elected to the Eighth District in 2018, carrying with her that same admiration for mentorship and appellate law.

Guiding the Next Generation
During her time on the bench, Judge Sheehan has used her personal experience to help guide and develop the next generation of legal professionals.

“When I first got elected, one of the first things I did was create an internship and mentorship program similar to what I experienced,” she said.

Since her program started, she has worked with students ranging from high school to law school, offering shadowing opportunities and judicial externships. In her first term alone, she had around 100 students throughout the school year working in her court. The program has only grown since then.

“I hope to leave a legacy of mentorship and helping the next generation.”

Her experience as an appellate lawyer prior to her time on the bench also influenced her approach to her work as a judge.

“It really deepens my appreciation for those who appear before the court of appeals, because it wasn't that long ago that I was arguing before the Supreme Court and the court of appeals,” Judge Sheehan recalled.

Judge Sheehan’s passion for her work stems from the professional experiences that shaped her and her career.

“I understand how important the issues are to the parties, and it really does inspire me to work hard on every case, big or small. Every case is important.”