Why I'm Running: A Note On My Campaign For Lakewood Municipal Court Judge

Brian Taubman, candidate for Lakewood Municipal Court Judge.

I believe that I was nine when I first realized that I wanted to be a judge.

As a child, I'd sit at dinner and listen to my father Bruce speak of his law practice, Taubman Law. He spoke of the law with great respect and lived for opportunities to make laws and use them to protect his clients.

So here I am, looking to fulfill my dream in the city I love. I realize that I'm new to the Lakewood political scene, so I thought I should introduce myself, what I believe in and why I think I can earn your vote for Lakewood Municipal Court Judge this November.

My name is Brian Taubman. I was born and raised in Northeast Ohio, and I've called Lakewood home for more than five years. I love our city, its parks, the wonderful people and our view of the lake (which is the best in NEO, in my opinion). I'm an attorney with an undergraduate degree from Kenyon College and a law degree from Capital University Law School. I've spent the last seven years of my career defending the rights of my clients in courts throughout Northeast Ohio, including Lakewood.

In that role, I've realized the inequities of the court system, and I am passionate and driven about how it can be improved. Because of this, my campaign is built on three pillars:

**1. Common sense rehabilitation**
In 2014, [198 people in Cuyahoga County died of heroin overdose](http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/04/heroin_overdose_deaths_plateau.html). Let that sink it. This is up from 107 in 2011. The epidemic is here, and it's hitting cities like ours. It's time for common sense drug programs that take first-time, non-violent drug offenders and put them on a healthier path to recovery. The current court claims to be working on this front, but there are so many patterns for doing this well across the country, and it MUST be at the forefront of our efforts here in Lakewood so we can save our children, neighbors and friends from being part of that staggering overdose total.

I'm also certified to handle mental health cases, and have first-hand experience helping those with mental health diseases in both my professional and personal life. When people suffering through this are put into the criminal system, they are not treated. They are instead funneled into a system that puts them on a path toward being a career criminal.

**2. Giving everyone a voice**
It is time for the court system to truly embody the equality that America promises. My goal is to give everyone a voice in my court. That means taking the harshest stances I can for domestic abuse and hate crimes. We must protect all citizens or no one is protected.

I am also a fan of animals. I own two German Shepherds, one a rescue, and will help our pets have a voice in the court as well. Animal abuse of any kind would not stand on my watch.

**3. Preventing spillover crime from Cleveland**

I'm aware of concerns of rising crimes in eastern Lakewood. I want to assure the citizens of Lakewood that I would take a tough stand on individuals that feel like they can cross into Lakewood and commit crimes. If I'm on the bench, these areas, like Birdtown and Gold Coast, will be safer.

Judge Patrick Carroll has served Lakewood since 1990 and I truly respect what he's done for our city. I do not know him well, but he seems to be a good man who is looking to close out his career in the position he's known for almost three decades.

But Lakewood has changed a lot in the last three decades - if you're reading this article online, you no doubt know this. Isn't it time for leadership in Lakewood's Municipal Court to reflect that change?

For example, when the United States Supreme Court ruled on Obergefell v. Hodges, the case in which the court held a 5-4 decision that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples, in June, I would expect the judge in a city like Lakewood to have been out in front of the city offering to put a focus on scheduling weddings for same-sex couples. Had I been on the court, I would have used this as a time to use social media and the Internet to promote this message.

It's time to bring the court into modern times. This means updating the court systems to make them more efficient. It also means using technology to get feedback from citizens and learn about other successful rehabilitation programs from across the country.

Technology should put pressure on a judge to get better and make the court better. This is a challenge I would take on. With all due respect to Judge Carroll, who would be serving his final six years in the court, I'm not sure he's up to this challenge. Although he's turned up his digital presence since I've announced my candidacy, putting together a site that looks similar to the one my team put up four months earlier, the court has been stagnant for many years, closed off to new technology. He may offer to make a push now, but since this is his final term, he wouldn't have any real accountability to the voters to make these changes.

I know I'd be new to this role, but my whole life I've looked forward to an opportunity like this. My experience is in helping injured workers fight for their rights, and I'm passionate about protecting people. I'd love to talk with you, answer your questions and prove that I am the right person for this job. Please feel free to reach out to me at my campaign email, Taubmanforjudge@gmail.com. You can also follow what we're doing on our site, Taubmanforjudge.com. Reach out and we'll work to make Lakewood even better, together!