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ETHICS PERSPECTIVE COLUMN

A CUP OF

JUSTICE

Magistrate William Vodrey

hen I was a young here, all of them, because of what this place is. the flags bear silent witness, symbols of the
prosecutor at Juvenile They come because of the essential function our authority of the nation and the state, reminders
Court, from time to society ascribes to it. The Justice Center is, or of the multitudes who may never come to
time someone in the should be, a place of solutions, of resolutions, court but whose business is nevertheless being
W office would have to run of closure and yes, of justice. From the smallest done, faithfully, day in and day out, here at the
an errand to the Justice Center in downtown of Small Claims cases (including, legendarily, a Justice Center.
Cleveland. When he or she asked if anyone lawsuit over one particularly nasty doughnut) Earl Warren, the late great Chief Justice
needed anything from there, a colleague would and the most minor and soon-forgotten of of the United States, wrote, “Where there is
occasionally say, “Yeah, bring me back a cup of traffic offenses, up to multimillion-dollar injustice, we should correct it; where there is
justice.” An old joke, but it usually brought a lawsuits and death penalty cases, they all come poverty, we should eliminate it; where there
chuckle, or at least a smile. If only justice could through the Justice Center, home to both the is corruption, we should stamp it out; where
be poured into a cup and taken wherever it Cleveland Municipal Court and the Court of there is violence, we should punish it; where
was needed. Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County. there is neglect, we should provide care; where
I’ve now spent most of my career at the The ancient Romans defined the goal of there is war, we should restore peace; and
Justice Center. The brown, squared-off tower justice as Suum cuique tribuere — to render wherever corrections are achieved we should
at the corner of Lakeside and Ontario has to each person his or her due. For the guilty, add them permanently to our storehouse of
been my professional home for more than 20 correction; for the innocent, vindication; for treasures.” The Justice Center is one of those
years. It is not beautiful; it is functional. It the wronged, compensation. Those obligations storehouses, I believe, but only if those who
is not new; in some ways it feels old, even remain with us even now, however imperfectly work here strive to make it so.
ancient, although since its opening in 1976 we perceive or achieve them. Over the past 23 I have my own opinion as to whether this
it has been around for only a brief fraction years working at the Justice Center, I’ve seen remarkable pile of stone, concrete, wood,
of the life of the city. It is not perfect, but it stupidity, criminality and cowardice here, but metal and glass should be torn down or
is aspirational. I’ve also seen wisdom, honesty and courage. upgraded. You’ll read more on that topic in
Those who built and named the building I’ve seen defendants and victims, judges and this issue from people far more knowledgeable
were aspirational, after all, even daring. The magistrates, prosecutors and public defenders about it than I.
Justice Center! A center for justice. A place for and lawyers of all kinds, and police officers But for me, come what may, the Justice
the rule of law to be interpreted, and applied, and bailiffs and interpreters and court staff and Center is the place where I have learned
and made clear to all. A place where people witnesses and jurors — God bless the jurors, more of, and given more for, law in the public
from across Cleveland and Cuyahoga County especially, in their vitally-important service! service than anywhere else in my life. For all
could seek the peaceful, efficient and just — and so many others. Each of them has left, its obvious flaws, for all its many faults, for
resolution of their disputes. A place of abiding perhaps only for an hour or a day, some small as unfortunately often as those within it have
and committed public service. Most of those mark on this building, this place of justice, even fallen short of the American ideal of justice, it
who work at the Justice Center are, I believe, if we can’t see it. Many are themselves, in turn, has helped make me who I am, and for that I
guided by those ideals, even when we fall marked by the building and what happens here. am and always will be grateful.
short; I know I am. I’ve heard laughter and I’ve seen tears, as
As a prosecutor and now as a magistrate, cases from the silly to the heart-breaking are
though, I must admit that I’m still somewhat tried in the hushed, wood-paneled courtrooms William Vodrey is a magistrate of Cleveland
in awe of this place. Every weekday, many before jurists who have seen it all and, despite Municipal Court. This essay reflects his views and
thousands of people come and go. (Some, taken the ineluctable tug of cynicism and despair, not necessarily those of the Court. He has been a
into custody, don’t go quite as soon as they still try to do justice, still try to do some good CMBA member since 2012. He can be reached at
might have expected or hoped). They come if any good at all can be done. Behind them (216) 664-3643 or vodreyw@cmcoh.org.
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