Why I'm running for municipal court judge
To the Editor:
I am running for Judge of Cleveland Heights Municipal Court to inspire people to reach their greatest potential.
The court serves as a mechanism to dispense justice with firmness and fairness. However, I believe the court should have a role in uplifting and empowering the community as well. I would institute these programs to ensure people are receiving services that empower them to lead productive lives, stay out the legal system and make the community safer and stronger:
I would establish a drug and mental health court or build partnerships with other local courts that offer programming and treatment to address those with substance abuse and other issues. I am already certified by the Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas to represent individuals with mental health disabilities, ands I preside on the Mental Health Board of the South Euclid Municipal Court and helped establish its mental health docket.
I would provide intervention education to eligible offenders by instituting a life skills and personal development course called the Finish First program. The goal of the program is to help improve relations between the community and the police by educating participants to develop the necessary skills to avoid negative interaction with the police and legal system. The program also includes an introductory lesson on emotional intelligence to manage one's behavior and relationships to make good decisions. I have already facilitated this program for over six years in various courts throughout Cuyahoga County with tremendous success.
I would establish a partnership with the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, providing civics lessons and training students on practical ways to obey the law and stay out of the legal system. This is something I have done and continue to do in the Cleveland and East Cleveland public schools.
I invite you to go to www.littleforjudge.com for more information regarding my campaign and the various programs I believe that will make our community safer and stronger.
DeAngelo Little
DeAngelo Little
Candidate for Cleveland Heights Municipal Court Judge