03/13/2026
Administrative Judge Alison McCarty has built a distinguished career defined by her unwavering commitment to justice, public service, and the protection of vulnerable members of the community. A graduate of Wheaton College with a Bachelor of Arts in English, she earned her Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1987. She began her legal career clerking in the Summit County Probate Court and later served as a Staff Attorney for the Ninth District Court of Appeals. In 1989, she joined the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, where she handled thousands of cases and personally tried nearly one hundred jury trials, securing convictions in the overwhelming majority of them. She quickly earned a reputation as a formidable trial lawyer while prosecuting some of the county’s most serious and sensitive cases, including murder, sexual assault, and crimes involving child abuse.
In 1999, Judge McCarty was appointed to the Akron Municipal Court and was later elected and re-elected to the bench. During her nine years there, she demonstrated innovative leadership by presiding over the Akron Municipal Drug Court and establishing the first urban DUI Court in the State of Ohio. Her efforts to address substance abuse and repeat drunk-driving offenses earned numerous honors, including the MADD Red Ribbon Award and the Urban Light Award from The University of Akron.
Elected to the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in 2008 and re-elected in 2014 and 2020, Judge McCarty presides over serious felony matters and major civil cases while also leading a Re-Entry Court Program that supports successful transitions after incarceration. Beyond the courtroom, she is widely recognized for her extraordinary dedication to mentoring the next generation of lawyers. Through her leadership with the Akron Bar Association’s High School Mock Trial Committee and her role as a Bencher with the Scanlon/Bell Inns of Court, Judge McCarty has spent many years guiding young attorneys and students in professionalism, ethics, and the practice of law. Her commitment to mentorship, combined with her decades of public service, reflects a deep belief in strengthening both the legal profession and the community it serves.