Judge Deena R. Calabrese

Judge Deena R. Calabrese joined the Court on January 1, 2025, following her election in November 2024. She previously served for over fifteen years as a judge in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. As a trial judge, she presided over complex, high-stakes cases, including multiple aggravated murder trials with death specifications, earning a reputation for fairness, diligence, and legal acumen. She was one of five Cuyahoga Common Pleas judges assigned to the Mental Health and Developmentally Disabled Docket, a unique docket dealing with seriously mentally ill and developmentally disabled defendants.

Prior to her multiple terms on the Common Pleas Bench, Judge Calabrese served as a prosecutor in both Mahoning and Cuyahoga counties, where she handled over 100 felony cases from indictment through trial, focusing on major crimes such as aggravated murder, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She argued appellate cases in Ohio's Seventh and Eighth District Courts of Appeals. She also played a pivotal role in the creation of Mahoning County's first child advocacy center, established critical programs under the Violence Against Women Act, and provided expert training for professionals addressing sexual violence, all demonstrating her commitment to justice for vulnerable populations.

Judge Calabrese has a passion for education and community engagement. She has been an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law since 2018, where she teaches trial tactics and shares her expertise in trial advocacy with the next generation of legal professionals. She also devotes time to mentoring high school mock trial teams.

Judge Calabrese was born and raised in the Cleveland area. After graduating from Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School, she received her B.A. from Xavier University, which she attended on a full academic scholarship. She received her J.D. from Cleveland State University College of Law, where she also earned a Master of Public Administration degree.