'It's been the greatest job in the world for me': Judge John Poulos reflects on career
CANTON ‒ After a working life that has covered 58 years, Judge John A. Poulos is retiring from Canton Municipal Court at the end of the month.
The lifelong Canton resident has served five six-year terms as judge and was prohibited from seeking reelection due to his age. Under Ohio's Constitution, those who are 70 or older may not be elected to judicial offices.
He will be replaced by Kristen Donohue Guardado, who won the position in the Nov. 7 general election.
But Poulos said that he would retire even if he were not legally compelled to do so. He said he does not have a specific plan for retirement.
“I’ve got a number of options available," he said. "I'm not sure yet, but I'm going to take some time off. I've been working since I was 12.”
I always tell people that across this great country of ours, there are many … judges that graduated from Harvard. There's only one that graduated from Hartford. -- Canton Municipal Judge John A. Poulos
The judge who grew up in southeast Canton and attended Hartford School started his working life at Topp's Chalet, a restaurant owned by his late aunt Basilia Zanallis. The establishment was on the northwest corner of Everhard Road and Whipple Avenue NW until it was destroyed by fire in 1994.
After his 1971 graduation from McKinley High School, Poulos worked his way through the University of Akron. He earned undergraduate and law degrees while employed at Diebold Inc., when it was on Mulberry Road SE. He was a member of Boilermakers Local 1191.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve for 30 years as a judge in the court that handles misdemeanors, traffic cases and small claims for nearly 200,000 citizens in central Stark County.
John Poulos: Serving as judge 'just a great opportunity'
“I've enjoyed my work, come to work every day and take care of all my responsibilities," Poulos said. "And it's been the greatest job in the world for me ... just a great opportunity.”
Prior to his election as judge, he was the chief prosecuting attorney for municipal court and a partner in the law firm of Kaschak and Poulos Co. LPA.
He won the judgeship in the November 1993 general election, defeating two-term incumbent Judge Loren E. Souers Jr. He hasn't faced an opponent since then.
“I had a jury here the other day and I told them to go thank your grandparents, because they're the ones that put me here,” Poulos said. “Thank you, everybody, for giving me this opportunity. I'm blessed.
"I grew up in the southeast end of Canton. I always tell people that across this great country of ours, there are many … judges that graduated from Harvard. There's only one that graduated from Hartford.”
Asked whether any cases he's heard in municipal court have been particularly painful or silly, he did not identify any.
Michael E. Kochera, administrator of Canton Municipal Court, said it has been a pleasure to work with Poulos.
"He's truly a judge of the people," said Kochera, who has been with the court for 22 years. "I think when people come before him, they know he means what he says, and he says what he means."
Kochera said Poulos might have given a defendant the chance to avoid jail by performing community service, getting counseling or spending time on probation.
"However, if you don't do the community service or the probation or the counseling, you know what you have coming,” Kochera said. "He's never afraid to give somebody a chance, but there won't be a second chance. He tells them up front what the expectation is. It's prevented a lot of uncertainty with the defendants that appeared before him."
Administrator Michael Kochera: 'He’s done it with conviction'
Canton Municipal Judge Mary A. Falvey was already on the court when Poulos arrived, having taken office in 1991. She worked with him when he was a prosecutor.
“I would want to mention his legacy of fairness to all the parties," Falvey said. "He truly was a great trial judge. I think he enjoyed working with all the young attorneys over the years. I think he taught them a lot because he did have that background of being a prosecutor and also a civil attorney. And he just enjoyed the trial work. “
“He’s done it with conviction,” Kochera said.
“I would say he's really dedicated his life to the Canton Municipal Court," Falvey said. "He truly believed in public service. He's been great to work with. His door was always open to me for any questions. I'm truly going to miss him."
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Judge John Poulos retiring after 30 years in Canton Municipal Court
