Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio graduated summa cum laude from The University of Akron in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education before pursuing her Juris Doctor from the university’s School of Law, which she received in 1982.
Judge Teodosio entered private practice after graduation. She also served as a Magistrate in Akron Municipal Court and as staff attorney for the 9th District Court of Appeals. In 1997, she was elected Judge in the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court where she served until her election as Judge for the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division. She began her administration of the Court on January 1, 2003 and was re-elected to a second six-year term in 2008.
Her administration of the Juvenile Court has inspired widespread attention for its innovative approach, particularly in the areas of alternative sentencing and enhanced programming. Judge Teodosio’s concept of integrating mental health issues as a causal element in the genesis and treatment of substance abuse has gained national notoriety for the Court’s Crossroads Program. Among the other programs she has launched are the Family Resource Center, which provides case management and referral services for youth and their families facing the challenges of teen pregnancy, domestic violence, school-to-work and re-entry into the community following a commitment in a juvenile corrections facility. Other programs and initiatives introduced to the Court by Judge Teodosio are Teen Court, the Mental Health Responder Program, a firearm education program and Project: Greenhouse Affect where youth in detention are taught the methods of gardening and landscaping.
Her performance on the bench has gained extensive notice. She received the Friend of Children Award from Child Guidance and Family Solutions in March 2010 for her programming addressing co-occurring disorders. In October 2009, Judge Teodosio was the recipient of the Maggie Carroll Smith Award from the ADM Board of Summit County for the work done in The Crossroads Program. Also in October 2009, the Court learned it’s “Takin’ It to the Streets” initiative was named one of the top two programs its kind in the nation by the United States Department of Justice. In October 2008, she was the recipient of the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services’ Making a Difference Award for the many programs she has developed during her time on the Juvenile Court bench. The University of Akron’s School of Law recognized her in April 2007 with its prestigious Outstanding Alumni Award. In June 2006, Judge Teodosio received of The Distinguished Citizen Award from the International Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta for her outstanding work in Government and Law. Previously, in 2003, she was recognized as the Public Official of the Year in Summit County by the National Association of Social Workers, which also named Judge Teodosio as its Public Official of the Year for the entire State of Ohio the following year. She has received the Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award for Government. Additionally, she has been named Business Person of the Year by the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce and one of the most influential women in Northeast Ohio by Northern Ohio Live magazine.
Judge Teodosio has served as a member or volunteer for over 50 civic and professional organizations, boards and committees, including President of the Board of Governors for the Akron Bar Association Foundation and President of The University of Akron School of Law Alumni Association.