03/22/2026
Judge Oldfield is the definition of true leadership in our Turning Point Program.
With unwavering dedication, integrity, and compassion, she sets the tone for what this program stands for every single day. Her ability to hold participants accountable while still seeing their potential is what makes lasting change possible. She leads with both strength and heart, reminding everyone who walks through our doors that they are capable of more.
Because of Judge Oldfield, Turning Point is more than a program, itâs a place of growth, second chances, and real transformation.
We welcome you to witness her in actionâTurning Point is every Tuesday.
We are grateful for her leadership and the impact she continues to make in so many lives.
Judge Joy Malek Oldfield has dedicated her career to justice, compassion, and meaningful service to the Summit County community. Her judicial service spans almost fifteen years, first in the Akron Municipal Court, and for the better part of the last ten years on the Summit County Common Pleas Court. A graduate of John Carroll University and The University of Akron School of Law, Judge Oldfield built a distinguished reputation as a highly respected trial attorney, practicing complex civil litigation and appellate work in courts throughout Ohio and before the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Supreme Court of the United States. Known for her exceptional courtroom skills, tireless work ethic, and deep empathy for her clients, she earned statewide recognition in her representation of those who experienced discrimination, serious injury, or profound loss.
Judge Oldfieldâs commitment to helping people ultimately led her to serve the public as an elected member of the justice system. Through the last fifteen years of her judicial service, she has become a recognized leader in recovery-focused and problem-solving courts. As Presiding Judge of the Turning Point Program (Summit Countyâs only felony drug court), she has championed innovative programs that address addiction through a holistic approachâfocusing on physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. Her initiatives, including Faith in Recovery with Love Akron, Y-STRONG wellness partnerships with the Akron Area YMCA, and the introduction of the courtâs first therapy dog, âTankâ, have helped countless individuals pursue lasting recovery and rebuild their lives. Her expertise has earned national recognition, with invitations to present for organizations such as AllRise, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Bureau of Justice Assistance on topics including trauma-informed courts and treatment-based justice.
Dedicated to education, Judge Oldfield serves as the Education Chair and First Vice-President of the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association and is one of nine judges across the State of Ohio appointed by the Supreme Court to the Board of Trustees of the Judicial College, a group who advises the Ohio Supreme Court on judicial branch education. She regularly provides instruction and advice to newly elected Ohio judges.
Beyond the courtroom, Judge Oldfield remains deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of legal professionals as an adjunct professor at The University of Akron School of Law, where she teaches pretrial advocacy and problem-solving courts. Her leadership and service have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Summit County ADM Boardâs Dr. Robert âBobâ Smith Innovation Trailblazer Award, the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association Presidentâs Award and one of this yearâs Girls Scouts of Northeast Ohio 2026 Women of Distinction. Widely respected for her integrity, leadership, and compassion, Judge Oldfield continues to make a lasting impact on the justice system and the community she proudly serves.
