The Oberlin Municipal Court serves several jurisdictions in Lorain County, including Oberlin, Amherst, the villages of Wellington, South Amherst, Kipton, and Rochester, and the townships of Amherst, Brighton, Camden, Henrietta, Huntington, New Russia, Penfield, Pittsfield, Rochester, and Wellington. On May 6, the court will elect the judge of the Oberlin Municipal Court. The judge’s duties are to oversee cases related to violation of municipal ordinances, traffic, and criminal matters within the court’s jurisdiction, and civil cases involving claims of up to $15,000. The judge is also responsible for ensuring the fair administration of justice, adherence to legal standards, and protecting individual rights within the court’s proceedings. This election is vital to our Oberlin community, as the decisions made within this position have direct legal implications. The Editorial Board has chosen to endorse and encourage readers to vote for Farah Lillian Emeka, OC ’97, as judge of the Oberlin Municipal Court. 

For many of us, both in the college and in the town, Emeka has already shown her leadership capabilities and experience in the legal field. She has served as Oberlin’s chief prosecutor and assistant law director. She has also worked for 20 years as a managing attorney for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office in the Family Law division. She worked in various legal fields such as litigation, estate planning, probate, family law, and business law. She also serves on several boards within the Oberlin community, including as president of Oberlin City Schools Board, chair of the Ruby N. Jones Community Scholarship Fund Board, and Chair of the Lorain County Urban League Board. Her experiences speak to her ability to inspire and educate others and her dedication to our community. 

Her commitment to fairness, justice, and community service resonates with our Editorial Board. In her campaigning, Emeka stressed not only her direct experience with the Oberlin municipal court but also philosophies that align with our values. Her initiatives focus on improving efficiency, ensuring equal access to justice, and creating a courtroom environment where everyone receives fair treatment under the law. The judge’s rulings within the municipal court affect many aspects of society, and we believe that Emeka has showcased her ability to be fair, knowledgeable, and committed to working for the community’s best interests.

Emeka has shown us this by being an active community member. As an Oberlin alum, Emeka has spoken on many panels and attended Oberlin events to connect with students and offer herself as a resource. She has offered internships and Winter Term projects for students, encouraging and inspiring our community to engage with law in the Oberlin community. The Review has asked her to comment on various topics, and she has always treated us with profound respect, reflecting a similar respect for the positions she holds. She is traveling all over Lorain County to learn more about the jurisdictions around us and connect with the larger Lorain community. Her goal is to learn about the issues affecting each community and understand how to serve them best. Emeka’s years-long experience demonstrates her understanding of how to connect with the individual members of our community and actualize our best interests by upholding our values of justice, fairness, and equity. We confidently endorse her as the best candidate to benefit and serve our local judicial system. 

Local elections can often feel small and insignificant in the face of national news, especially in the tumult of our current national political landscape. However, local politics have direct implications for our lives, in some areas more so than national affairs. Yet local elections consistently suffer from low voter turnout. The Editorial Board stresses the importance of registering to vote before May 6 and voting, as the election for judge is vital in how our legal system runs. A judge’s philosophies and beliefs affect case outcomes, perceptions of fairness, and the standards to which our community holds itself. The judge also oversees the municipal court’s administration, which determines the efficiency of case processing and the implementation of new initiatives that allow the court to run smoothly. This is our opportunity as a community to ensure fairness within our legal system. 

We urge all eligible voters to support Farah Lillian Emeka. Students and community members who wish to support her campaign and to get more involved should visit her campaign website and consider volunteering. All those registered to vote in Ohio must mark their calendars for early voting, which begins April 8, and for the May 6 election. Let’s support our fellow Oberlin community members and fight for a fair legal system.