Judge Candace Crouse of the First District Court of Appeals expressed excitement ahead of her assignment on the Supreme Court of Ohio.

While Judge Crouse previously served as an assigned judge in a case during a virtual oral argument session in 2020, she was looking forward to having an in-person experience on the Court.

Earlier this month, Judge Crouse heard In re Commission’s Investigation into RPA Energy Inc., Case No. 2024-0236. The case examined the investigation of an electric supplier by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

She sat in for Justice Joseph T. Deters, who recused himself from the case. The Ohio Constitution allows the chief justice to appoint an appellate judge to hear a case when there is a recusal.

From Performing Arts to Law
Judge Crouse hails from Morgantown, West Virginia. With no lawyers in her family, a career in law wasn’t on her mind.

With interest in the arts, she tried her hand at ballet and attended the North Carolina School of the Arts for two summers in high school. Although a career in ballet was not her path, she later majored in theater during her first year at West Virginia University.

She eventually pivoted to International Studies and German majors, following her mother’s German heritage. Although she had no plans to attend law school, a course in religion and politics led to encouragement from her professor and father to pursue that path.

After graduating from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, she clerked under Judge Frederick P. Stamp of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Judge Crouse wanted to build a legal career in Ohio. She joined a small firm that focused on domestic relations law, immigration law, and criminal defense.

“That last one was an area of the law that I never thought I would practice. I was the one who used to ask, ‘How can you represent those people?’ Little did I know that criminal defense work would become my specialty,” she said.

After holding jobs at several other smaller firms, Judge Crouse began her own firm with four partners in 2013, where she practiced until she was elected to the First District in November 2018.

Judge Prioritizes Teaching and Development
In February 2019, Judge Crouse took the bench. Throughout her tenure, she has devoted time to developing the legal community and her own court.

She is currently serving a second term as a commissioner on the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct and participates on the Ohio Jury Instruction Committee. She also co-teaches a criminal trial skills class at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

“Throughout my career, I have made a point to mentor and teach,” she said. “I learn so much from my students and mentees.”

To students, she emphasizes the importance of networking and reputation. Despite being an introvert, she has made networking feel organic and has seen the value in connections, even years later in her professional relationships.

“It may be years later, but people will remember you when they’re hiring or need to refer a case,” she added.

For the First District, Judge Crouse has consistently worked to improve the court.

“I always remember that my job is as a public servant. My goal is to make the court better than when I joined it,” she noted. “I continuously ask what we can do to make our court more efficient, convenient for litigants, and transparent.”

With the help of the district’s judges and staff, she has done just that. Through livestreaming of oral arguments, more detailed opinions with each decision to establish precedent, and a successful mediation program, Judge Crouse has been a part of transforming the court.

Cincinnati Became Home
Judge Crouse is immensely grateful for the career and life she has made for herself in Cincinnati.

“I really feel like Cincinnati embraced me,” she said. “I love this city and the people here. It is my home.”

In her free time, she stays active and enjoys spending time with her family and Boston terrier, Mollie.

Since 2019, she has been elected to the bench twice and is honored to serve the people of Ohio in the First District.