The Honorable Judge Edward J. Elum

Judge Edward J. Elum has served as a Massillon Municipal Court Judge since January, 1996. Prior to becoming Judge, he was a lawyer with Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffith & Dougherty, LPA, Canton, Ohio, and General Counsel for Higher Education in The Ohio Attorney General’s Office under Attorney General Anthony J. Celebrezze, Jr.

Judge Elum is a lifelong resident of the court district. He graduated from The University of Notre Dame in 1974, and received his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio Northern University Law School, in 1977, where he was awarded The Liberty Bell Award.

Judge Elum has been active in many civic, community and charitable organization. In 1999, Judge Elum received the Massillon Boys & Girls Club’s Man & Youth Award for outstanding service to the youth of the community. Grace Community Church bestowed on him the Servant of the People Award; and, Faith Community Fellowship Church honored him with their Community Service Award. Judge Elum also was awarded received the Civil Liberties Award from the Civil Liberties League of Massillon in 1996. Elum serves as a member of the Advisory Board of Doctors Hospital and Habitat for Humanity. Judge Elum was co-founder of The Family Living Center, a residential transitional housing program to assist homeless families with children obtain permanent housing, self-sufficiency and employment.

Judge Elum, together with Judge Kettler, have initiated an aggressive Community Work Service Program that orders defendants to perform work for community and charitable organizations. Since this Program’s inception, the Program has generated over $850,000.00 in labor hours for the community. Judge Elum has also instituted procedures that will protect the Victims of Crime. He has presided over 15,000 cases as Judge and has increased the collection of court fines to record amounts.

Judge Elum is a former United States Naval Officer and member of American Legion Post 221, Rotary Club of Massillon, Knights of Columbus 554 and The Edward Frederick Sorin Society of The University of Notre Dame. He served five years as a Board of Trustee member of The Stark College of Technology.