Advisory Committee

The Guardian ad Litem Project operates according to its By-laws under an Administrator and an Advisory Committee. Elsie Day was the Guardian ad Litem Project's Administrator from 1981 to 1984. Marcia Dettelbach assumed that position in 1984. Magistrate Patricia Yeomans was the GAL Project's Administrator from 1987 to 1990, when Marita Kavalec came aboard and provided eight years of service to the Project. Marita Kavalec left the GAL Project to work for the Juvenile Court and was succeeded by Lisa O'Rear-Lassen for two years. In April 2001, the current Administrator, Judith L. Layne took the helm. Throughout the years, the Advisory Committee has been comprised of attorneys, psychologists, college faculty, social workers, foster parents, and members of valued community organizations. The Executive Director of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and the Juvenile Court Administrative Judge serve as ex-officio members of the Advisory Committee.

The Guardian ad Litem Advisory Committee of 2013

DANIEL J. BARTOS, Attorney at Law

PAUL B. BERMAN, Attorney at Law

YVONNE C. BILLINGSLEY, Supervisor
Asst. Prosecuting Attorney, Children & Family Services Unit, Office of Cuyahoga County Prosecutor

DANA C. CHAVERS, ex-officio
Director of Court Services, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court

LYNNE L. CHAVERS, Staff Attorney Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court

DONALD P. CHRISTMAN, Attorney at Law

KIMREY D. ELZEER, Attorney at Law

RUSSELL A. EZOLT, Attorney at Law

NANCY J. GLICK, Attorney at Law
Positive Education Program

DOUGLAS R. HENRY, Attorney at Law

DONALD E. HOWARD, Attorney at Law

TONYA R. JONES, Attorney at Law

DEIRDRE F. KONOPKA, S.T.A.R.T. Unit Supervisor
Cuyahoga County Department of Children & Family Services

ERIC R. LAUBACHER, Attorney at Law

ANNE S. McFARLAND, Attorney at Law

SANDRA B. McPHERSON, Ph.D.

CYNTHIA M. MORGAN, Attorney at Law

AMY L. NASH, Attorney at Law

HON. THOMAS F. O’MALLEY, ex-officio
Administrative Judge, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court

SUSAN M. ORGANISCAK, ex-officio
Director of Mediation, Cuyahoga County Office of Justice Affairs

HON. DENISE N. RINI
Judge, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court

DONALD W. RISTITY, Attorney at Law

NANCY SIN, Attorney at Law

JODI M. WALLACE, Magistrate
Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court

DAVID R. WATSON, ex-officio
Executive Director, CMBA

MARK WITT, Attorney at Law

STEVEN E. WOLKIN, Attorney at Law

JOSEPH C. YOUNG, Supervisor
Asst. Prosecuting Attorney, CSEA Unit, Office of Cuyahoga County Prosecutor