Judge Eric Brown

PROFESSIONAL LEGAL EXPERIENCE:

Judge, Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Probate Division, Columbus, Ohio. February 9, 2009 to present. Elected in November 2008 for a full term as probate court judge.

Judge, Franklin County Common Pleas Court, General Division, Columbus, Ohio. July 2005 to February 2009. Elected in November 2004 for a full term to a newly created seat on the court. Presided over a large caseload consisting of criminal felony cases, substantial civil disputes, and a wide variety of other matters, including serving as the probate judge in a significant guardianship case. As a common pleas court judge, I have handled more than 5000 cases on my docket, nearly 3000 of those civil and more than 2100 of those criminal cases. During that period, I presided over seven bench trials and 28 jury trials, along with thousands of other hearings.

Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource Judge. Selected to participate in ASTAR, a national program designed to prepare judges to preside over cases involving complex science and technology issues and to serve as a resource to other judges.

Appointed Board Member, Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board, Columbus, Ohio. 2005 to present. The Board provides oversight for criminal and juvenile justice programs funded through Franklin County.

Magistrate, Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Columbus, Ohio. October 2003 to 2005. Appointed to serve as a judicial officer by the court’s sixteen judges. Assigned to Judges Jennifer L. Brunner and Alan C. Travis. Presided over jury trials, jury-waived trials, motion hearings, discovery hearings, damages hearings, mediation conferences, pre-trial and status conferences, and a variety of other legal proceedings. Conducted felony arraignments, which includes setting bond and appointing counsel to represent indigent defendants.

Eric S. Brown, Attorney-at-Law and Legal Consultant, Columbus, Ohio. January 2003 to October 2003. Provided legal and consulting services on various projects, including efforts to establish and fund an Ohio Tobacco Control Law Center that would be affiliated with a law school. These efforts eventually led to the creation of the Tobacco Public Policy Center at Capital University Law School.

Legal Counsel, Value Recovery Group, Columbus, Ohio. September 2002 to January 2003. Developed partnership opportunities with federal agencies and state governments for recovery of claims. Managed and pursued recovery of large, complex assets.

Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Ohio Attorney General, Columbus, Ohio. January 1992 to August 2002.

Tobacco Litigation Counsel, Administration Section, 1996 to August 2002.

Led tobacco litigation for the Ohio Attorney General and worked on a vast range of tobacco matters, including preparing and filing a lawsuit in 1997. Managed the prosecution of Ohio's legal action, including coordinating eight assistant attorneys general, three local law firms, and three national law firms who served as special counsel. Actively participated in negotiations and drafting of a failed 1997 global settlement effort and a highly successful multi-state settlement, the largest in history. Ohio's share of the recovery will exceed $10 billion during the first 25 years.

Following the 1998 settlement, principal responsibility for implementing and enforcing the settlement in Ohio, including compliance issues and numerous, complex litigation matters. Led Ohio’s participation in multi-state negotiations to address the economic concerns of tobacco growers, resulting in the creation of a settlement trust; led enactment and enforcement of legislation to help protect Ohio's share of the settlement payments; actively participated in numerous post-settlement multi-state working groups, including economic and payment issues, litigation and enforcement matters. Attended to numerous economic and payment calculation issues that have arisen under the settlement.

Acting and Assistant Chief, Consumer Protection Section, 1992-97. (Acting Chief, 1994.)

Managed and supervised staff of 65, including 12 lawyers, 14 investigators, and an active consumer complaint unit responsible for resolving thousands of disputes. Coordinated and directed state and federal legislative efforts. Developed and piloted new model mediation programs for resolution of consumer disputes. Created statewide consumer education program for 5th and 6th grade students. Frequent speaker to consumer and business groups, students, elderly. Handled media requests, provided interviews, and wrote a monthly newspaper column. Supervised and guided litigation and law enforcement efforts of legal and investigative staff. Coordinated efforts with other federal and state law enforcement agencies. Developed and implemented training programs for staff. Implemented new public records policy. Actively participated in numerous multi-state working groups.

Eric S. Brown Law Offices, Cleveland, Ohio. 1985-91.

Shared and managed law offices with six attorneys. Law practice included business and civil litigation, criminal defense, legal services for the elderly, business planning and transactions, school law, real estate and leasing transactions and corporate law.

Associate, Yulish, Twohig and Associates Co., L.P.A., Cleveland, Ohio. 1979-84.

Affiliated with high volume worker's compensation and personal injury law firm. Supervised five lawyers and handled all other areas of firm’s legal practice, including civil and criminal litigation, business and real estate transactions, education law, bankruptcy, juvenile, probate, immigration, domestic and family law.

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

The Cuyahoga County Bar Association. Treasurer, 1986-89. Trustee, 1983-86 and 1989-92.

Judge, Mock Trial Competition, Ohio Center for Law-Related Education.

Impartial Hearing Officer, Cuyahoga Special Education Service Center.

Appointed, The Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District of Ohio.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Elected Member, Board of Education, Mayfield City School District. 1978-93 (Four Terms). President, 1983-85, 1990-92; Vice-President, 1980-82. Selected to All Ohio School Board, 1986, Ohio School Boards Association.

Owner, American Pool Supply and Service Company, Cleveland, Ohio. 1973-79. Established and operated swimming pool service business to provide staff, management, supplies and repairs to commercial and residential accounts throughout Northeast Ohio. Hired, trained, and supervised hundreds of lifeguards. Sold company in 1979.

EDUCATION:

Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio. Juris Doctor, 1979.

Kibbutz Ein Harod Meuchad, Israel, Hebrew Ulpan Study, 1975-76.

Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio. Bachelor of Arts, History, 1975.

Denison University, Granville, Ohio, 1971-72.

BAR ADMISSIONS:

State of Ohio; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, United States Courts of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the District of Columbia Circuit.

PERSONAL:

Judge Brown has been married more than 36 years to Marilyn Brown, who in 1996, in her first time on the ballot, won election as a Franklin County Commissioner. Marilyn served as President of the Board of Commissioners in 2008. The Browns have two daughters, one who works in New York City as an event planner, and the other who works for the Ohio Industrial Commission. Their older daughter graduated from OSU Law School, and was recently admitted to the Ohio Bar. Judge Brown and his wife enjoy urban living and reside in the Short North area of Columbus. They most enjoy spending time with their two grandsons.