WOLDMAN, ALBERT A. (1 Jan. 1897-30 Dec. 1971), lawyer and CUYAHOGA COUNTY JUVENILE COURT judge, was born in Russia to Isadore and Gertrude (Kudish) Woldman. He came to Cleveland with his family at 18 months. Woldman graduated with an A.B. from Adelbert College in 1917, and attended Western Reserve and Ohio Northern law schools, graduating with a LL.B. in 1919. In 1914, he became the youngest probation officer in juvenile court's history. While in college, he worked as a reporter for the CLEVELAND PRESS and assistant state editor for the PLAIN DEALER. Between 1919-41, Woldman maintained his private practice and taught at John Marshall Law School. In 1941, he became Cleveland's assistant law director; in 1945, chairman of the Ohio Bureau of Unemployment Compensation's Board of Review; in 1949, director of Ohio's Dept. of Industrial Relations. He was appointed to the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court in Aug. 1953. Winning a 2-year term in 1954, Woldman was twice reelected to 6-year terms. As the court's administrative judge, viewing juvenile delinquency as the number-one social problem, he was also responsible for the county juvenile detention home. During his later years on the bench, he had to deal with discontent and poor morale among court employees because of low pay. Woldman was an avid student of Abraham Lincoln, writing Lawyer Lincoln, a study of Lincoln's career as a lawyer and the constitutional problems of the CIVIL WAR. Woldman was president of B'NAI B'RITH of Cleveland. He married Lydia Levin on 3 July 1921 and had 3 children, Robert, Phyllis, and Stuart. Woldman died at his home in BEACHWOOD and was buried in the Warrensville Cemetery.

Albert A. Woldman Papers, WRHS.

Related Article(s)

• LAW
• FINE ARTS AND LITERATURE