Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams hails from Springfield, Ohio and graduated from Miami University with her BA degree.  After graduating from CSU|LAW, Judge Collier-Williams worked in a mid-size law firm before opening her own law firm in 1999.  In 2012, Judge Collier-Williams became the second African American (female or male) to be elected to the Court of Common Pleas, General Division, without first being appointed by the Governor, or having served on another judicial bench.  She also became just the fourth African American female to be elected to the Court of Common Pleas, General Division, in the history of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.  She is the Chairperson of the Ohio Supreme Court Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection; Co-Chair of Ohio Black Judges Association, Inc.; Member of the Executive Board of the National Bar Association Judicial Council; and life member of CSU|LAW Alumni Association.  Judge Collier-Williams is the recipient of the National Bar Association Judicial Council Chair’s Award for Exemplary Leadership and Service; the Sara J. Harper Humanitarian Award; City of Springfield Alumni of Distinction Award; and was named Notable Woman in Law by Crains Cleveland Business. Judge Collier-Williams is one of four judges who maintain a Commercial law docket.