The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cornachio takes reigns as judge
Family, friends, colleagues and even her second-grade teacher crammed into a small courtroom at Willoughby Courthouse Dec. 29 as newly elected judge Marisa Cornachio took the oath of office.
The ceremony was short, thanks in part to an impending Ohio State Buckeyes football game, Cornachio joked as she battled with a case of laryngitis during her acceptance address after being sworn in by Lake County Probate Judge Mark Bartolotta.
“I’m just so honored to be here,” she told the crowd of easily 100 gathered inside Courtroom A on the building’s second floor. “There are so many of you here that I want to thank. I could easily name everyone. But I can’t possibly do this because the Buckeyes are starting in, like, a half-hour.”
Football aside, however, she did manage to thank numerous Lake County officials, including her predecessor Judge Harry Field,
Lake County Prosecutor Chuck Coulson, Chief Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Karen Kowall, Bartolotta, all the law enforcement representatives she’s worked with over the years, her friends, parents Jack and Marlene, friends, husband and children and even Betty Hackenberg, her second-grade teacher at Phillips School, all of whom she said have helped her throughout her life and career.
“This day is really about everyone here in this courtroom,” she said, adding that it wouldn’t have come to be without them.
After defeating Laura A. DePledge and Michael D. Murray in a three-way race in the November election, Cornachio, a Willoughby native, didn’t seem to have any delusions about how demanding her new position will likely be.
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to work in this very busy court,” she said, adding that she’s looking forward to working on some technology upgrades and continue to see to it that “this is a place where everyday people come to resolve their problems. I’m committed to ensuring justice is served in our community in a fair and impartial manner.”
Following her address, as she, her family, friends, the other judges in attendance and others posed for group photos, Hackenberg said she remembers Cornachio as a standout, even in second grade.
“She was a top-notch student,” the retired educator said.
“I always knew she was headed for great things, even in second grade.”
Michael Kliegl, who is Cornachio’s husband of 12 years and father of the couple’s three children, said he and the family are excited for Cornachio.
“It’s very exciting,” he said. “She’s got a lot of ideas and she’s ready to get going.”
Kliegl added that it’s been a great learning experience for their children, who have been by their mother’s side the whole way.
“It’s been a really good experience for them,” he said. “We always said that, no matter what happens, just try like you can’t fail. And I think that’s been a good lesson for them.”
And, like everyone who spoke about her, Bartolotta said he expects Cornachio to enjoy a bright future at the courthouse.
“I expect great things from her,” he said, adding what an honor it was that she asked him to perform his first-ever swearing-in of a judge. “She’s hard working. She cares and she’s passionate about this office. So I expect great things from her.”
Likewise, Field said he has faith Cornachio will do a great job behind the bench, where he sat for six years in addition to being the court’s chief magistrate for eight years after being the court’s acting judge since 1983.
“I can say I feel good about it,” Field said. “I feel confident that Judge Cornachio is going to do a wonderful job in continuing the tradition of administering justice to all here in Lake County.”
He added that he feels she is a worthy successor.
Cornachio seems ready for the job, too.
“I’m just so excited,” she said. “And I’m eager to come to work on Tuesday.”