Probate court has jurisdiction over matters related to the death of  Summit Count residents by handling their wills and estates, including will contests. The Court may be called upon to decide if a person needs a guardian, and in certain, unusual cases, the Judge may be called upon to end the life of a person no longer able to make decisions for him or herself.  In addition, the Court administers trusts and guardianships for disabled adults, including the elderly, the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled and minor children. The Probate Judge also hears eminent domain actions and appoints citizens to certain Boards and Commissions. 

The paper work of the court is handled by its own clerk of courts. The costs of running the court come from tax dollars and from fees collected. The probate Judge sets the budget which is approved by County Council and also decides how to spend money in a member of discretionary accounts. Currently, there are 37 employees with a budget of around $3 million.

Since 1991 Judge Stormer has served our community as a Judge, first in the Akron Municipal Court and currently in Summit County Court of Common Pleas General Division. During her service, Judge Stormer has become well known throughout the region and State for her cost-saving and sensible approach to the issues brought before her.

                In 1995 she became the first municipal drug court judge in Ohio. Her successful court provided the model for many other courts including the first court of mentally ill offenders in Ohio and one of a handful in the country. Judge Stormer began that mental health court in 2000. Recently the federal  government recognized the excellence of the Akron model and designated it as one of five training centers in the country.

                In 2004 Judge Stormer was elected to the Common Pleas Bench in the General Division. In the last several years, she has disposed of thousands of cases including over one hundred jury and bench trials. She has tried significant and complex cases including a death penalty case.

                In addition to maintaining a current docket, Judge Stormer was elected Administrative Judge in 2006 and 2007 by a bipartisan body of judges. Even though she is one of the least senior members of her bench the other judges recognized her administrative ability. In the last year and a half, under her guidance, the Court has adopted new policies and procedures, including a testing process for new hires, established targeted employee evaluations, “reengineered” the probation department and fostered strong relations with other county office holders. She serves as administrative judge over a budget of $13million and 157 employees without additional pay or a reduction in her own case load.

                Consistent with her commitment to using new approaches to combat the cycle of crime, Judge Stormer also began a re-entry court in September 2006. The docket integrates felons back into the community. Two other judges have joined her in this process since then with an overall success rate to date of over 70 percent.