The Morning Journal Date questionnaire completed: _9/17/14__

Election Questionnaire Office sought: _Judge 9

th
District Court of Appeals_

Political party: _Democrat__________________
Name: _Eve Belfance____________________________________________________________________________
Age: _52_______ Date of birth: _1/23/1962______________ Place of birth: _Akron, Ohio___________
Home address: 590 Merriman Rd, Akron, Ohio 44303____________________________
Length of residence in that community: _42 years____________ Twitter: ______________________
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JudgeEveBelfance Campaign Web site: judgebelfance.com_
Occupation: Judge,9
th
District Court of Appeals__ Employer: State of Ohio-9
th
District Court of Appeals
Business address:_161 S. High Street, Suite 504, Akron, Ohio 44308_____________________________
Elected office experience: ______________________________________________________________
__Judge, 9
th
District Court of Appeals, elected November 2008_______________________________
__Judge, Akron Municipal Court, elected November 2005
Judge, Akron Municipal Court re-elected 2007 _
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Non-elected office experience (boards, etc.): ______________________________________________

Member, Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College Appellate Curriculum Committee__________________
Member, Supreme Court of Ohio Appellate Statistical Reporting Subcommittee_______________________
Board Member United Disabilities Services (chair Client Services Committee)_________________________
Board Member Womens Endowment Fund (Co-Chair of For Women For Ever Annual dinner for last 5 years)
Board Member Akron Bar Foundation (chair of Grant Committee 2013, 2014)______________________
President, Scanlon-Bell Inn of Court_______________________________________________________
Parish Council Member, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

Education (Please only list schools youve graduated from and list degrees if applicable):
Yale University, B.A_________________________________________
Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, cum laude_____________________
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Marital status: _Married________________ Name of spouse: _Chris Colford_____
Name and age of any children: _Two children ages 14 and 10____________________________________
_ ______________________________________________________________________
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Organizations: Yale Alumni Schools Committee Director _____________________
Fellow, Akron Bar Foundation___________________________________________________________
Fellow, Ohio State Bar Association __________________________________________
Parent volunteer, Ballet Excel Ohio____________________________________________________
Member, Lorain, Summit, Wayne, Medina Bar Associations___________________________________
Volunteer judge, American Collegiate Moot Court Association Midwest Regional Tournament (2011, 2013)
Volunteer judge, Law and Leadership (2014)_____________________________________________
Sunday school teacher, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church___________________________________
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Should you be elected, what are three specific areas youd like to change, address, improve or further research,
and how specifically would you go about it?:

The three most important areas are judicial education, technology and court administration. I am honored to serve on
the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College Appellate Curriculum Committee which is creating the first ever
comprehensive appellate curriculum for Ohios appellate judges. When parties are dissatisfied with the outcome of a
trial, they can appeal to the Court of Appeals. A three-judge panel will review the appeal and correct any errors made
at trial. The Court of Appeals is the court of last resort for most parties since the Ohio Supreme Court is permitted to
select the cases it hears on appeal. The issues considered by the Court of Appeals include every area of the law (both
civil and criminal) and include decisions such as whether a person will lose a home to foreclosure or permanently lose
custody of a child. The issues presented are often complex and may have never been decided by any court. Thus, it is
essential that appellate judges have the knowledge, experience, and continuing education to properly decide the
appeal. The second area is advancing the use of technology in our court to create easy access for all. As Presiding
Judge, I have worked diligently to amend our appellate rules to facilitate electronic filing. Finally, our court has a high
volume of appeals and proper administration of the court is vital. To maximize the efficiency of our court, I have
engaged in restructuring our administrative and attorney staffing to place resources where they are most needed and I
will continue that effort if re-elected.

Whether for past accomplishments or future goals, why should voters elect you?

I bring to the Court: (1) 24 years legal experience, including over 8 years of judicial experience as a former trial court
judge and as current Presiding Judge of the 9
th
District Court of Appeals where I have considered over 1,700 appeals
and written hundreds of opinions; (2) broad and diverse legal knowledge; (3) over 15 years legal and appellate
experience as a former practicing attorney; (4) experience as a federal judicial attorney; (5) demonstrated scholarship;
(6) a rigorous academic foundation; and (7) an understanding of complex legal issues, all of which are necessary to
ensure that the decisions of our Court are fair, well-reasoned and grounded in the law. I also possess a strong work
ethic, professionalism, balanced judicial temperament, and judicial demeanor that reflects the dignity of the judiciary.
As a former trial court judge, I handled thousands of cases, and conducted criminal and civil jury trials and bench trials.
As an appellate judge reviewing the decisions of trial court judges for possible errors, I bring the experience gained on
the trial bench as well as many years of broad experience including appellate work as a lawyer. I am dedicated to
improving the legal system by engaging in judicial and attorney education, serving on the appellate curriculum
committee of the Ohio Supreme Court Judicial College, and am an active board member of many civic organizations in
our community.

NOTE TO CANDIDATES: Please be aware that this questionnaire will be published.