Susan Kelly Steinhauer, ADR Attorney in Akron, Ohio

Susan Steinhauer is resident of Stow and a product of the Akron Public School System. Ms. Steinhauer graduated from Firestone High School in 1991 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Business at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a major in Marketing and Minor in MIS (Management Information Systems). Ms. Steinhauer then earned her Juris Doctorate from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis in 1998 and was admitted to the Indiana and Ohio bars as well as the Northern and Southern District of Indiana that same year. Additionally, Ms. Steinhauer was admitted to the Florida bar in April 2001.

In March of 1999, Ms. Steinhauer joined the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, where she primarily prosecuted cases relating to child support and child abuse, dependency and neglect. Ms. Steinhauer was also the prosecutor’s representative on the committee transferring all child support cases from Juvenile Court to Domestic Relations Court. Ms. Steinhauer then joined the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, in August 2001 as a floating judicial attorney. Susan worked with a variety of judges, both elected to office in the General Division as well as Visiting Judges. Ms. Steinhauer was assigned to several high profile cases, the asbestos docket, foreclosure cases, complex litigation and other civil matters. While at the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, Ms. Steinhauer began sitting as a Magistrate on an as needed basis primarily hearing felony arraignments, civil protection stalking cases and multiple other civil cases all while continuing her work as a floating judicial attorney. Ms. Steinhauer also conducted a number of arraignments and hearings utilizing an interpreter.

In June 2008, Ms. Steinhauer was named Chief Legal Officer for White Hat Management, LLC, a former Ohio community (charter) school operator and early advocate for school choice. During Ms. Steinhauer’s time at White Hat Management, LLC, the company was actively doing business in six (6) states while exploring additional business opportunities in other states. Ms. Steinhauer was active in writing and advocating for legislation involving school choice. Ms. Steinhauer was responsible for legal matters including writing, reviewing and negotiating contracts, formation of business entities, human resources investigations, EEOC issues and complaints, proceedings in front of the United States Department of Education and other administrative agencies, drafting policies and procedures, coordinating litigation with outside counsel, appearing in court and compliance with numerous federal and state administrative agencies. Ms. Steinhauer also assisted in selling business entities as well as performing a number of other duties as Chief Legal Officer.

In June 2011, Ms. Steinhauer began practicing law with her father, John S. Steinhauer, coordinating litigation in numerous jurisdictions, preparing and attending trials and mediating settlements. Ms. Steinhauer also provided comprehensive legal research and provided legal opinions.

In April 2021, Ms. Steinhauer had the honor of being appointed by Governor Dewine as a Judge for the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. During Ms. Steinhauer’s tenure as judge, she oversaw a docket that contained between 732 and over a thousand cases monthly. Ms. Steinhauer presided over dissolutions, divorces, child custody matters, annulments, child support issues as well as a number of other legal issues including the validity of prenuptial agreements, previously signed separation agreements and shared parenting plans and the determination of whether a de facto divorce date was appropriate or whether a child is classified as a Castle child according to Ohio law. Ms. Steinhauer has also presided over a number of trials involving complex financial matters including division and valuation of businesses. Ms. Steinhauer additionally conducted numerous hearings utilizing an interpreter.

During Ms. Steinhauer’s tenure as Judge, she was the Domestic Relations Court representative on Summit County’s Racism is a Public Health Crisis, a member of the Ohio Judicial Conference on the Domestic Relations Judge’s Committee, the Legislation committee and the Technology Committee. Ms. Steinhauer has also completed the Ohio Supreme Court’s Project ECHO program. The purpose of Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes)is to connect medical experts with judges so that decisions from the bench will better reflect the science of drug addiction, especially the effects of opioid abuse on the brains of offenders. Ms. Steinhauer prides herself on working hard with counsel as well as litigants to achieve the best outcome for all involved, especially the children.

Ms. Steinhauer has been the recipient of the Woman of the Year Award, National Association of Professional Women, 2010-2011; the Presidential Who’s Who Among Business and Professional Achievers, 2011; and the International Women’s Leadership Association, 2015.

Ms. Steinhauer has served the community as a member of PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization), a board member of several school PTAs for over 5 years and has served as a Trustee for the Highland Chase Landowner’s Association and President or Vice-President of the HOA for the last several years. Ms. Steinhauer is a mother of two daughters and is a supportive softball, volleyball and dance mom.