The Honorable James J. Costello

Judge J.J. Costello is the Judge of the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court. A lifelong Cleveland Heights resident, he and his wife Alicia are proudly raising their two sons in our community.

Judge Costello earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Miami of Ohio and his Juris Doctor degree from Case Western Reserve School of Law. After he was admitted to practice in Ohio, he opened up his own law practice in Cleveland Heights. From there, he joined with the law firm Powers Friedman Linn, PLL. Prior to taking the bench as Judge on January 1, 2018, he also served as an Acting Judge of the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court.

Judge Costello has previously served as a member of the Cleveland Heights Cable Television Commission, Recreation Advisory Board, and Civil Service Commission. He is also a graduate of the Cleveland Heights Citizens Police Academy.