The latest Canton, Stark County must-read stories
Here are some stories you may have missed over the last week in Stark County.
- Stark County Family Court Judge Rosemarie Hall is retiring on Oct. 1 after serving in that capacity since 2011.
- Hall developed award-winning programs for parents and teens, including “Think Before you Post.”
- Colleagues praised Hall for her wisdom, mentorship and lasting impact on the court and its staff.
- The Stark County Republican Executive Committee will recommend candidates to Gov. Mike DeWine to appoint Hall’s replacement.
CANTON ‒ Judge Rosemarie A. Hall is ending her career in Stark County Family Court, effective Oct. 1, because she will turn 69 in October and feels the time is right.
She wants to focus on her family, which includes her retired husband Charles Hall, two daughters and four grandchildren — two here and two in Columbus.
“My mother is 95 and I’d like to spend more time with her,” Hall said.
She considers her family and her children her greatest personal accomplishments.
Professionally, she is most proud of innovative programs developed within the court.
“I think we’ve moved the court forward and we’re well respected in the state,” said Hall, who has been a judge in Stark County Common Pleas Court’s Family Court Division since 2011. She served as a magistrate in the court from 2004 to 2011.
As a magistrate, she developed and presented Working Together for Kids, a parent education and mediation program for parents who never married. She presented the program at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Conference in March 2010. The program received the State of Ohio Child Support Best Practices Award in 2009 and the Ohio State Bar Association’s Innovative Court Practices Award in 2012.
She recently developed and presents “Think Before you Post,” a program presented to teens addressing sexting and cyber bullying: and a companion program for parents, “Cyber bullying, Sexting and Flaming: Kids, Technology and the Law.”
Hall said the best part of her job is seeing that she has helped a family or a child.
“Sometimes we see kids from the worst situations and it’s nice to see that you’ve hopefully bettered the life for that child,” she said.
Hall said that after retiring, she will miss the people with whom she works.
“We have a great staff at Family Court, so I will miss the connections with them,” she said.
Hall is one of three Family Court judges who handle juvenile crime offenders, domestic relations case and other matters. The others are Michelle L. Cordova and Matthew P. Kreitzer.
Judge Cordova: Hall ‘a constant source of support and inspiration’
Cordova, in a written reflection, wrote that Hall “has been a constant source of support and inspiration throughout my professional journey — from her first day as a magistrate, through her years of service as a Judge while I was a prosecutor, and ultimately as a colleague when I joined her on the bench.
“Her wisdom, integrity, and steady guidance have left a lasting impact on me and on countless others who have had the privilege of working with her,” Cordova wrote. “While I will greatly miss her counsel and friendship, I am deeply grateful for the example she has set and the legacy she leaves behind.
“I wish her a well-deserved retirement filled with joy, good health, and many new adventures!”
Judge Kreitzer: Hall provided sound advice, friendly ear
Hall was a magistrate when Kreitzer began practicing law in Family Court in 2007.
“As a practicing attorney, I was happy when she became judge because when I was practicing before her, I always found her to be a well-reasoned and fair magistrate,” he wrote. “She continued to operate in that manner when she took the bench as judge.
“In 2014, she provided me with guidance and help with my transition from attorney to magistrate in the Family Court. Over the years she has provided me with sound advice and has been a friendly ear when I needed someone to speak to regarding a case.
“When I became judge in 2025, she again helped me to understand the administrative side of the court and the decision-making responsibilities of a judge,” Kreitzer wrote. “She has been an outstanding mentor and a wonderful colleague to work with. Her absence will be felt by all of us at the court.”
Court Administrator Diane Wilson wrote that she could easily talk about Hall’s respect for the law, her intellectual curiosity and her unwavering work ethic.
“Her civic minded nature and desire to be of service is woven into the fabric of who she is,” Wilson wrote. “Although these things alone make Judge Hall a good judge, it is her commitment to ‘growing’ other professionals that makes her one of the very best. Judge Hall’s legacy includes the ongoing achievements of those she grew; shaping the next generation of Family Court leadership and pioneering court programs designed specifically to serve the needs of Stark County children and families.”
Retired Judge James: ‘She has the rare ability to be compassionate but firm’
Retired Judge Jim D. James, who left Family Court in December 2024, wrote that Hall has been a great asset for the families of Stark County.
“She has the rare ability to be compassionate but firm in her courtroom,” he wrote. “It was my privilege to work with her on the Family Court bench. I wish her the best in retirement.”
The Stark County Republican Executive Committee will meet on June 24 to recommend up to three people to Gov. Mike DeWine, who will appoint Hall’s replacement.
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.
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