Summit County Judge Honored for Contributions to Recovery
Judge Joy Malek Oldfield was recently recognized by the Summit County Addiction and Mental Health Board for her work in the field of recovery.
Known more commonly as “Dr. Bob,” Robert Smith co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous at his home in Akron. His portrait hangs in Judge Oldfield’s courtroom at the Summit County Common Pleas Court. She was honored to receive the award in his name.
“It's really cool that he created this comprehensive program that so many of my people [in the court’s specialized docket] rely on to work through their steps and have a sponsor, and that motivates them to succeed,” said Judge Oldfield.
As part of her role on the bench, Judge Oldfield presides over the only specialized docket in the county dedicated to adults facing drug-related felony charges. The Turning Point Program is certified by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Its mission is to provide individuals with effective court supervision and enhanced treatment services to change their behaviors and reduce their risk to the community.
“Judge Oldfield has redefined what recovery-focused justice looks like in Summit County and beyond,” said the ADM board.
Having spent nearly 15 years on the bench, Judge Oldfield has operated a specialized docket for most of that time, beginning at Akron Municipal Court in 2013 before continuing her mission after being elected to the common pleas court in 2016.
“I was really drawn to the concept of people coming out of the system more stable and stronger than they were when they got there, and not coming back,” said Judge Oldfield.
Judge Oldfield and the participants of her Turning Point docket recently volunteered at a local food bank.
Her commitment to participants extends beyond the program’s weekly meetings. Outside of the courtroom, Judge Oldfield leads monthly excursions to engage participants in the community through wellness and educational opportunities. Most recently, the group volunteered at the Akron Food Bank.
“I really do try to help them be healthy in different ways. I feel like when they're done with court, if they've created a life where they have found interests for themselves, they're going to have long-term success,” said Judge Oldfield.
Additionally, she has partnered with vocational employment services through the State of Ohio and local nonprofits to help participants secure employment, restore driver’s licenses, and find stable housing. She also partnered with the YMCA so participants and their families receive free gym access while enrolled in the program and reduced rates after graduation.
“It's not enough to just say I stopped using drugs and alcohol. Now we have to change the circumstances that they came to me with,” said the judge. “That means helping them get employed in a more stable environment, helping them get their driver's license, helping them become better parents.”
A key component of Judge Oldfield’s philosophy is creating consistency, and that begins with the treatment team who work with participants week after week.
“When you see the same people — the same prosecutor, same defense lawyer, same judge, same team — it makes a difference. The participants see that consistency, and that helps them build their own consistency,” she said.
Judge Oldfield’s dedication to her specialized docket can be seen by the way she plans vacations around court, never wanting to miss a session. Even during maternity leave, Judge Oldfield came to work once a week to meet with her participants.
Her favorite part of the docket is following her participants’ progress and watching them succeed.
“I see them succeeding. I see them making small changes in their life, and then I get to see them graduate,” Judge Oldfield said.
Each quarter, successful participants are celebrated with a graduation ceremony. But the journey doesn’t end there. Judge Oldfield established an alumni network for graduates to stay connected with one another and maintain their focus on recovery. The group is led by a graduate whose position is funded by a grant.
In addition to her administrative judge duties in Summit County, Judge Oldfield spreads her success stories to other specialized dockets to help develop their programs. She was a presenter at the Supreme Court’s Specialized Dockets Conference, she is a Board of Trustees member for the Judicial College, and she regularly assists with training during New Judges Orientation. Judge Oldfield also serves as second vice president of the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association and teaches at the University of Akron School of Law.