Evelyn Lundberg Stratton

Eve is of counsel in the Vorys Columbus office.  Prior to joining Vorys, she served for 16 years as a justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio and for seven years as a trial judge in the Court of Common Pleas.  She counsels clients on variety of practice areas, including appellate issues, litigation and health care.  In addition, Eve handles mediations, arbitrations and private judging.

Eve has decades of trial and appellate experience.  She uses this experience to counsel attorneys and law firms throughout Ohio, providing case preparation and trial consultation.  This counsel includes offering judicial decision process-observations; case assessment and strategy analysis; the review and analysis of briefs; and the development and presentation of litigation themes.  Eve also helps attorneys prepare for trial and oral arguments and assists with mock hearing and trial runs.  She brings these decades of experience to also helping parties resolve cases by mediation or arbitration.  She was awarded Best Appellate Lawyers of America each year from 2017 to 2023.

Eve spent the first nine years of her legal career as a central Ohio trial lawyer.  In 1988, she became the first woman elected judge of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court.  She was appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court by Governor George Voinovich in 1996 and was elected by Ohio voters to three six-year terms.

Eve is also a dedicated public servant.  While serving on the Ohio Supreme Court, she formed and chaired the Supreme Court of Ohio Advisory Committee on Mental Illness & the Courts, which since its formation in 2001 has helped establish 45 mental health courts, recommended changes to Medicaid and advocated for a new Juvenile Competency Statute.  She served for 8 years with former Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine as co-chair of the Attorney General's Task Force on Criminal Justice and Mental Illness, and continues as co-chair with Attorney General Yost.  She is on Governor DeWine's Ohio Recovery Advisory Council, which advises the governor on addiction and mental health policy issues.  Eve has also advocated nationally for the development of veterans’ treatment courts, which assist returning veterans with post traumatic stress and other issues that may lead them to involvement in the criminal justice system.

Eve's work has resulted in many honors, such as the Congressional Coalition on Adoption’s Angels Award, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Adoption Excellence Award and the Ohio State Association of Veterans’ Service Commissions Outstanding Service Award.  In 2008, she received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.  Ranking among the nation's most prestigious awards, this honor pays tribute to American citizens of diverse origins for their outstanding contributions to their communities, their nation and the world.  She recently was inducted into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

Eve has two awards named in her honor: the Justice Stratton Award for Court Security, which has been awarded yearly since 2004, and the Justice Evelyn Stratton CIT Champion of the Year, which has been awarded yearly since 2012.

Eve is a member of the Ohio and Columbus Bar Associations.  She is also member of the Ohio and Columbus Bar Foundations and Women Lawyers of Franklin County.

Eve received her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.  She earned her B.A. and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Akron.  Eve also has an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Capital University Law School and an Honorary Doctorate of Community Leadership from Franklin University.

Honors & Recognitions

National Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2017-2021, 2023

Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award from the Judges' & Psychiatrists' Leadership Initiative, 2021

Congressional Coalition on Adoption, Angels in Adoption Award, 2001

Council of State Governments, Henry Toll Fellow, 2010

International Community Corrections Association, Judicial Award, 2010

National Alliance on Mentally Illness, Distinguished Service Award, 2004

National Ethnic Coalition Organization, Ellis Island Medal of Honor, 2008

National Judges’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative (JLI), Special Recognition, 2008

Prevent Blindness America, Award for Volunteer Leadership, 2000

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Adoption Excellence Award, 2001

Trial Practice Awards

American Board of Trial Advocates (Ohio Chapter), Professionalism Award, 2013

Columbus Bar Association, Judicial Pro Bono Award, 2012

Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, Public Service Award, 2013

Ohio Senate, Commendation for Service, 2013

Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio Bar Medal Award, 2014

Criminal Justice Awards

Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Hall of Fame, 2022

Advisory Committee on Specialized Dockets, Ohio Supreme Court, Certificate of Recognition, 2012

Columbus Bar Foundation, Judicial Pro Bono Award, 2012

Corporation for Supportive Housing, Champion of Supportive Housing, Award, 2013

Justice League of Ohio, Model of Justice Award, 2013

Ohio Association for Court Administration, Certificate of Appreciation, 2012

Ohio Bail Agents Association, Appreciation Award, 2008

Ohio Bailiffs and Court Officers Association, Outstanding Achievement Award, 2000; Certificate of Recognition, 2012

Mental Health Reform Awards

Mental Health America of Franklin County, Norman Guitry Award, 2018

Columbus Area Inc., Mental Health Advocate Award (Government Sector), 2011

Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation, Compass Award, 2015

National Alliance on Mental Illness - Ohio Chapter, Mental Health Champion Award, 2002; Lighting the Candle of Hope for So Many Award, 2014

National Alliance on Mental Illness of Geauga County, Certificate of Appreciation, 2008

Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, President’s Award, 2008

Ohio Psychological Association, Award of Excellence, 2012

Veterans Treatment Court Reform Awards

The Military/Veterans (MILVETS) Educational Foundation, CSM Jake Brewer Leadership Award, 2016

AMVETS Past State Department Commanders’ Civil Servant of the Year Award, 2013

Masonic Franklin County Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Association, Community Service Award, 2013

Ohio National Guard, Certificate of Appreciation, 2011

Ohio Military Reserve Association, Outstanding Service Award, 2008

Ohio State Association of Veterans’ Service Commissioners, Outstanding Service Award, 2011

Vanguard Veteran Champion Award, 2021

Vietnam Veterans of America, Buckeye State Council, Veterans Advocacy Award, 2010; Distinguished Service Award, 2013

The Psychiatric Society of Central Ohio, Award for Treatment Centered Courts for Veterans, 2010

Other Recognitions

Best Lawyers 2017, Spring Edition, "Women of Influence," Best Appellate Columbus Lawyer

Esther H. Brocker Award and Scholarship, 2016

Commonwealth of Kentucky, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, 2010

Franklin Church, Faith and Freedom Appreciation Award, 2013

Professional Independent Agents Association of Ohio, Industry Person of the Year, 2013

LeTourneau Stampede, Girls Goat Tying, 1st Place, 1972

Professional & Community Activities

American Psychiatric Association Foundation, Board Member, 2019 to present

Recovery Ohio Advisory Council to Governor DeWine, 2019 to present

Stepping Up Ohio, Project Director, 2014 to present

Attorney General's Task Force on Criminal Justice and Mental Illness, Co-Chair, 2012-2018, continuing under AG Yost, 2019 to present

Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, Board of Directors, 2013 to present

Judges’ Leadership Initiative/American Psychiatric Foundation Task Force, 2012 to present

National Judges’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative (JLI), 2004 to present; Co-Chair, 2004-2008

Ohio Justice Alliance for Community Corrections (OJACC), Board of Trustees, 1995 to present

Columbus Council on World Affairs, Board of Trustees, 1990-1999; Honorary Trustee, 1999 to present

Prevent Blindness Ohio, 1988-2003 Chairman of the Board of Trustees, 1999-2001; Honorary Trustee, 2004 to present

National Judicial Task Force Center for State Courts, 2021 to present

Resurrecting Lives Foundation, Vice Chair, 2011-2013; Advisory Board, 2013 to present

The Benefit Concert Association for Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Heart Center, Member, 1992 to present

Franklin University, Criminal Justice Advisory Board, 2013-2016

Ohio Community 4 Kids, Co-Chair, 2013-2015

Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (OHLEG) Advisory Group, Co-Chair, 2013

Juvenile Justice Reforms I, II and III, Co-Chair, 2012-2015

Veterans in the Courts Initiative, Chair, 2009-2013

Corporation for Supportive Housing, National Board of Trustees, 2005-2013

Supreme Court of Ohio Advisory Committee on Mental Illness and the Courts, Chair, 2001-2011

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Board of Trustees, 1996-2008

Teaching/Speaking Engagements

The Justice System and Psychiatry Grand Round Series, University of Toledo Psychiatry Department; The Ohio State University; Attorney General's Task Force on Mental Illness and Jails

• "Mental Illness and the Intersection of Civil and Criminal Courts," April 2022
• "Crisis Intervention Team Trainings for Law Enforcement," February 2022
• “Probate and Civil Commitment Issues,” April 2022
• "Veteran Population," November 2022

Ohio Attorney General Task Force Committee for Mental Health and Jail Trainings

• "Best Practices in the Prescription of Antipsychotic Medication in Jails," September 2022
• "Mental Health 101," November 2021
• "Collaborative Mental Health Care for Incarcerated Individuals Part I," March 2022
• "Collaborative Mental Health Care for Incarcerated Individuals Part II," December 2022

“The Role of Mental Health Courts as an Alternative to Incarceration,” July 2022, Council for State Governments Midwest Conference

“Stopping the Revolving Door: How Psychiatrists Can Reclaim Individuals with Mental Illness Stuck in the Criminal Justice System,” May 2022, American Psychiatric Association Annual Conference

“Building a Modern Behavioral Crisis Response System: The Role of Federal Policy,” January 2022, National Brookings Institute

“Stepping Up Community Meetings,” 2021, 2022

"Stepping Up Resources to Improve Lives," December 2021, Ohio County Commissioners Association Conference

"Stepping Up," October 2021, State of Delaware Annual National Alliance for Mental Illness Conference

“The Use of Special courts and the Stepping Up Initiative,” July 2021, National Alliance on Mental Illness

“Stepping Up: Mental Illness and Criminal Justice,” March 2021, Ohio Psychiatric Physician Association

December 2020, Foundation of Mental Health and Criminal Justice

“Mental Health Professionals Role in Reclaiming Community Members from the Justice System” October 2022, American Psychiatric Association, Mental Health Services Conference