JUDGE BRIAN J. MELLING

A Bedford High School graduate, Judge Melling received his B.A. from Mount Union College, and his Juris Doctorate from Ohio Northern University School of Law in 1974.

Entering private practice in 1974, Judge Melling became the Bedford City Prosecutor in 1975. In 1976 Judge Melling was appointed the Bedford City Law Director, and he served as such until his election to the Bench of the Bedford Municipal Court in 2000. Judge Melling also served as the Assistant Law Director for the City of Solon from 1989-1997. Judge Melling was also appointed to serve as an Acting Judge of the Bedford Municipal Court in 1992.

Judge Melling is active in community activities, including Bedford Historical Society, 1983-present; Trustee, Community Hospital of Bedford, 1983-1993 (Chairman of the Board 1991-1993; Vice Chairman 1989-1991; Finance Chairman 1987-1991); Bedford Kiwanis Club, 1980-2000; and the Ohio Municipal League, 1985-2000.

Judge Melling is also a member of numerous organizations, including Ohio State Bar Association, 1974-present; Northeast Ohio Municipal Judges Association, 2000-preesnt; Ohio Municipal League-Joint Self Insurance Pool-Trustee, July 1993 to Jan. 1, 2000; Ohio Municipal Attorney Association, 1990-2000.

An avid football fan, Judge Melling and his wife Phyllis reside in Solon.

JUDGE HARRY J. JACOB, III

Judge Harry J. Jacob III is a lifelong resident of Northeastern Ohio. Having graduated from Chagrin Falls High School in 1974, Judge Jacob earned his undergraduate degree from Kent State University in 1978 and his law degree in 1981 from Case Western University School of Law.

Prior to his election to the Bedford Municipal Court, he spent the majority of his legal career in private practice as a solo practioner. During his 28-year law practice, Judge Jacob handled a wide array of cases, including defending hundreds of clients in Bedford Municipal Court. He also made the effort of promoting, protecting, and improving the honesty and ethics of the local legal community by serving on the Cuyahoga County Bar Associations Grievance Committee; Ethics Committee (chairman); Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (chairman); and Lawyer Client Relations Committee.

In addition to his legal work, Judge Jacob has been involved heavily in other community activities. For years he served on St. Rita Catholic Church’s parish council, finance council and pre-Cana team, and Judge Jacob has been an officer in the Knights of Columbus. From 1988 through 2009, he was a member of the Solon Civil Service Commission, and spent the last 11 of those years as chairman of the commission. Other community activities Judge Jacob participated in include the Solon Ward Review Commission, Jaycees, Solon Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary (past president), and for over a decade, Judge Jacob ran and coached Solon’s youth travel soccer program, culminating in being named State Boys Youth Soccer Coach of the Year in 2002.

Elected in 2009 by the voters of the fourteen communities comprising the Bedford Municipal Court, Judge Jacob took office on January 1, 2010. Judge Jacob and his wife Susan reside in Solon and are the proud parents of two adult children.