A New Judge and a Revamped Jury Room in Cuyahoga County

Michael Shaughnessy is now the top judge in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. He took over from Brendan Sheehan, who led the court for six years. Shaughnessy was chosen by his fellow judges for a two-year term starting in January. Shaughnessy has a lot on his plate. He will manage the court's daily operations and speak for all its divisions. He thanked his predecessors and praised Sheehan's handling of the court during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shaughnessy promised to uphold justice and protect everyone's rights. Before becoming a judge in 2017, Shaughnessy studied law at Cleveland State University. He worked as a criminal defense lawyer and served as South Euclid's city prosecutor for over ten years. He also managed one of the county's mental health courtrooms. While Shaughnessy takes the reins, the court has been sprucing up its jury facilities. The jury assembly room at the Justice Center just got a major makeover, its first since the 1990s. The new space includes digital signs, better lighting and sound, Wi-Fi, charging stations, and even a coffee station.Sheehan emphasized the importance of jurors, calling them the backbone of the justice system. The upgrades were based on juror feedback over the years. The renovated room offers comfortable seating, accessible workstations, lockers, and free coffee and tea. Sheehan compared it to a fancy airport lounge. The court isn't stopping there. It's also modernizing its courtrooms with new video screens and wiring to better show digital evidence. Upgrades to rooms on the top two floors are already done. The Justice Center cafeteria is getting a new vendor and better food options, and a new snack bar has been added to the first-floor atrium. Other improvements include a nursing room for jurors, electronic sign-in badges for faster check-in, updated bathrooms, and refrigerators for lunches. Sheehan and court administrator Greg Popovich said most of these upgrades were funded through court fees saved over a decade, not taxpayer money. With tens of thousands of jurors summoned each year, these upgrades aim to make their service more comfortable and efficient. It's a big change for the court, and Shaughnessy is ready to lead the way.