Judge Joy Malek Oldfield of the Summit County Common Pleas Court has received the Dr. Robert M. Smith Innovation Award from the Summit County Addiction and Mental Health (ADM) Board. The award is named after Dr. Robert Smith, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous in Akron. It recognizes Judge Oldfield’s work in supporting people in recovery. Judge Oldfield displays Dr. Smith’s portrait in her courtroom as a reminder of the importance of recovery programs.
Judge Oldfield oversees the county’s only specialized docket for adults with drug-related felony charges, called the Turning Point Program. The program is certified by the Supreme Court of Ohio. It provides court supervision and treatment services to help participants change their behavior and reduce risks to the community. The ADM Board noted Judge Oldfield’s role in promoting recovery-focused justice in Summit County.
Judge Oldfield has served on the bench for nearly 15 years. She began working with specialized dockets at Akron Municipal Court in 2013 and continued after her 2016 election to the common pleas court. She works to help participants achieve stability and avoid returning to the system. She emphasizes the goal of leaving the system in a better position than when they entered…