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ENDORSEMENTS
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. Cast your Ballot for Khalilah Lawson for Cleveland Municipal Court Judge
Meet the Candidate and Join the Movement
Along the Journey
Meet Khalilah lawson
Khalilah Lawson is the Senior Magistrate for the Cleveland Municipal Court. Her commitment to justice and her profound understanding of the law guides her in making impactful decisions that uphold our community’s standards. Her crucial role ensures fairness and integrity in the judicial process, underscoring her dedication to serving and enhancing her community.
Senior Magistrate Lawson knows what it takes to seek justice and promote justice. Over a decade of her life has been committed to public service and the practice of law. She has practiced in every area of our court system serving as Magistrate for the Cuyahoga County Probate Court, Volunteer Magistrate for the East Cleveland Juvenile Diversion Program, Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutor, Criminal Defense Attorney, and a Personal Bailiff.
Senior Magistrate Lawson was born and raised in Cleveland, OH and is a CMSD graduate. She is civically engaged in her community and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is a loving wife, mother, and the daughter of Rev. Randy Reed and First Lady Carol Reed.
She is currently a Candidate for Judge for the Cleveland Municipal Court and will be on the ballot this November 2025, where she intends to continue in her role as a public servant making equitable decisions for litigants.
Committed to Community service
I am civically engaged in many community organizations. I am an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Ohio Black Judges Association and former Board Member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. As an active member of the Bar Association, I volunteer with the Mock Trial Competition, 3R’s Program, and Louis Stokes Scholars Program. I serve on the Committee for Character and Fitness where I interview candidates applying to sit for the Ohio Bar.
I believe in pouring into programs that poured into me. The Upward Bound/Trio Programs were very instrumental in my success. Because of their impact, I volunteer as a mentor and also teach a law course I created entitled Criminal Theories.
I am a Board Member for the Ohio Association of Magistrates and have been an Instructor with the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College. As a seasoned Magistrate, I also mentor new Magistrates through a program with the Supreme Court.
A Candidate with real WORLD Experience
I currently serve as the Senior Magistrate for the Cleveland
Municipal Court. As the Senior Magistrate, I supervise Magistrates within my department and oversee court dockets. I also create policies and procedures to ensure proper utilization of resources that improve the functionality of those dockets. In addition, I hear Civil and Criminal cases daily.
I have also served as a Magistrate for the Cuyahoga County Probate Court and Volunteer Magistrate for the East Cleveland Juvenile Diversion Program.
My experience also includes Criminal Trial and Appellate Practice. As an Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor (Juvenile and Adult General Felony Division), with the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, I have tried criminal cases and argued before the 8th District Court of Appeals. I have practiced as a Criminal Defense Attorney and served as a Personal Bailiff.
I have practiced in every area of our court system, and I know what it means to seek justice, as well as promote justice.
Integrity-Experience- Dedication
Khalilah Lawson
