August 5, 2025 • 23 mins
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Ever wondered how a young girl from Columbus could rise to become a beacon of justice? Join me, Coach Tim Brown, on the Be A Baller podcast and be inspired by the story of Judge Jaiza Page. From her formative years at the Columbus School for Girls to her life-altering time at Georgetown University, Judge Page's journey is a testament to the power of education, faith, and a strong family foundation. She opens up about the cherished values passed down from her mother and grandparents, and the influential mentors who paved her path to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division. Her tale is not just about personal triumph, but also about the profound commitment to public service and instilling a legacy of positive change.
This episode is a celebration of second chances and the indomitable human spirit. Judge Page shares uplifting stories of individuals who have turned their lives around with the help of the justice system—finding sobriety, employment, or a new educational path. Judge Page shares the importance of nurturing aspirations in the legal field among our youth and the pivotal role faith plays in overcoming life's hurdles. As we discuss the concept of legacy, you'll be encouraged to reflect on your own impact and how you can contribute to a better world. Whether you're a law enthusiast, aspiring public servant, or simply someone who cherishes community growth, this conversation with Judge Jaiza Page will leave you motivated to craft a lasting legacy of your own.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And as I think about the work that I do, many days I
see people on their worst daybecause they are not sure what
is going to happen to them.
Are they going to get to go outof the front door, which means
that they're going back hometoday, or are they going to go
out the side door, which meansthat they are going to go to
jail or prison?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome to Be A Baller podcast where we discuss
how to build a lifelong legacy.
I'm your host, coach Tim Brown,today.
I'm excited to have in thestudio with me Judge Giza Page,
and we're just so excited tohave you on the show Today.
On the show, giza will shareher commitment to public service
.
Share her commitment to publicservice.
After favoring serving invarious elected officials, judge
(00:51):
Page was selected to theFranklin County Court of Common
Pleas General Division.
I've known Judge for a while,followed her path to all this
great success, and I'm just soexcited to have this
conversation with you so welcometo Beer Baller Podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Thank you so much.
My pleasure to be here today.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
I'm waiting on you to get on that television show.
You know, I know you come andjudge Judy and all that Judge.
Jason.
Even Steve Harvey has a shownow, yes, he does.
So you didn't bring your gavelwith you, did you?
No, not this time.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
You're not going to pound on the table today are you
, I promise I won't Everybody'sgood in here right.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
We're all good, we're all good, you know.
Growing up you were blessed.
To finish, I think you said youspent your last two years at
Columbus School for Girls.
Yes, how did that all-girlsschool impact your life today?
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So that's a great question.
And I went to co-ed school fromdaycare all the way up until
10th grade and then my mom madethe decision to transition me to
Columbus School for Girls and Ireally enjoyed that experience.
For some people you think, whywould you want to do that with
the last two years of highschool, and particularly you're
now going into a school that isall girls?
(01:51):
But I found the environment tobe very empowering.
I think that it prepared me forcollege and it prepared me for
a career and a life of justbeing, you know, someone who
understands my strengths as awoman and who understands how to
navigate and operate in society.
So I really liked it.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, you left there.
You went to Washington DC.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I went to Georgetown University and I was actually
sharing with someone earliertoday when I first applied
People kept telling me that'sthe school where Patrick Ewan
and Allen Iverson went, you know, and I was like well.
I don't play basketball, sothat's definitely not why I'm
going there, but I did have theopportunity to complete my
undergraduate degree atGeorgetown.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Now leaving Columbus and going to DC.
I'm sure that was a littledifferent, a little different.
Can you talk about thedifference, maybe in the cities
and what?
How does CSG or Columbusprepare you for that experience?
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yes, so going to Washington DC is a big city.
Growing up here in Columbus, weweren't the 14th largest city
at that time and so our city wasnot as diverse.
We did not have as manydifferent like restaurants,
let's say and we just weren'tknown for some of the things
that we are now.
But then going into DC, Itransitioned into an area where
(03:11):
you saw people from alldifferent walks of life, people
spoke many different languages,and I found my experience here
in Columbus and at ColumbusSchool, for Girls did prepare me
for that.
So I believe that I was juststrong in who I am and my
identity, and so I was able toenter into a new space that was
(03:32):
a lot more fast-paced but stillmaintain who I was, and learn a
lot about the city, and I had agreat undergraduate experience.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Hey there Clark Kellogg here.
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Speaker 2 (04:21):
I know you are a strong young woman of faith.
Can you talk about your faithjourney?
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Yes, so my family is a family of faith and I have
always grown up with faith beingat the forefront of our lives
and the decisions that we make.
I was baptized at the age ofnine and I remember that because
it was actually my ninthbirthday, and you know.
Since then, but even before, Ihave always held my faith very
(04:48):
dear to my heart.
It is an integral part of who Iam and it's an integral part of
the decisions that I make in myjourney.
I don't shy away from it.
I pray all the time I read theword and to me it is, like I
said, just really a part of whoI am.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
You know you have a close relationship with your
family, with your mom,grandparents and all that.
Can you talk about thatrelationship and some of those
life lessons that you learnedfrom mom and grandma?
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Yes for sure.
My mom, my grandparents, myentire family, like I said, is a
family of faith, and they arenot short of providing me for
lifelong lessons, and one ofthose being particularly the
importance of education.
And when I was a junior in highschool and my brother would have
been a sophomore we were about18 months apart, but just a year
(05:38):
as far as grades Our momgraduated from Ohio Dominican
University with her associate'sdegree, and so she had a career.
She worked for the state formany years, and even at that
time she had probably had 20years with the state, and so the
reason that she told us thatshe did that, particularly while
we were in high school, wasbecause she wanted to show us
(05:59):
the importance of education andcontinuing our education after
high school, and that's what wewanted to do.
And so for me, it was awesometo be able to cheer my mom on I
mean, she, my brother and Iwould many times have homework
all at the same time, but it wasjust a great family experience,
a great bonding experience, andit really showed me how much
(06:23):
love my mom had for me and howhard she wanted me to work to
pursue my dreams.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
There's something about that sacrificial love of
moms and just parents period,that unconditional love.
Yes for sure, I think, for youseeing that example of education
I always tell people you can'tbe what you don't see Exactly
and seeing that I know that wasa great experience.
You all doing homework togetherand all that yeah.
Now here's a real question whowas the smartest in the family?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Well, I think it depends on the subject.
So math was always my thing.
Okay, my brother is a reallygood writer, oh wow.
And my mom, like English, waslike her thing, so English was
her thing.
So I was more like the math andscience, even though I ended up
in the legal field, whichpeople normally say lawyers
don't like math.
(07:09):
But I really like math.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
That leads to the next question Did you always
want to be a lawyer?
Where did that come from?
Did you always want to be alawyer?
Speaker 1 (07:16):
So I wanted to be a lawyer since I was eight years
old I was watching a show Ithink it was on ABC Family and I
just remember that there weretwo parents who were having a
custody battle over their childand there was a judge in the
show and he said that the sonneeded to have a lawyer in order
to represent like his interests, particularly with the parents
(07:37):
fighting, and so I don'tremember the title of it, but
then I just said I want to be alawyer and I want to help kids.
And I saw the Client that moviea little later in life with one
of my mentors at the time and Isaid this is definitely the
work that I want to do.
So it has stayed with me and Ithink that it has been my
purpose and my path.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Awesome, awesome, who were some of your?
You mentioned mentors, who weresome of your early mentors.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
So early mentors would have been, of course, my
mom, my grandparents,particularly because they all
moved from the South here toOhio.
They had high school diplomas,worked hard, taught me the
importance of education, youknow, and just really being good
people, giving back to theircommunity and being productive
(08:25):
citizens.
And as I began to kind ofprogress and go on, I met a
woman named Joanne Davis whoheld a program at Ohio,
dominican, that was calledVillage to Child.
Remember that?
T Street, yes, t Street, yes.
I know that program well.
She was one of my Y mentors.
I mean just the way that shepoured into young people that
(08:48):
she was not related to, I wouldsay that was one of the first
times I really saw that.
And when I was in high schoolthat was actually the first time
I met then Judge RichardPfeiffer, who later became the
Columbus City Attorney, and Iinterned with him when I was a
senior in high school and he hasbeen one of my mentors since
that time, before college.
(09:10):
But since then I have gathered,or not gathered, but I have
other mentors who have helped mealong the way.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
When you first ran for office.
You know, can you talk aboutthat experience?
Who were some of those persons?
Cause you know we see you outfront.
You know we're wearing yourshirts.
Cause I wore your shirts.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
So we're wearing your shirts, you know we get people
to go.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
But who were those persons?
Maybe behind the scenes?
It really makes this thingbecause you're young.
You were young then.
Yes, you were young.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Who was that?
Who were those people behindthe scenes?
So I had a group of people myfamily, close family friends Mr
Pfeiffer was one of them thatwere kind of telling me where I
need to go, where I need to be.
It was my first time runningfor elected office and for those
who know me and know me well,they know that this wasn't
necessarily something that Iwould have said, I saw myself
doing and I remember even MrPfeiffer he's like you're so
(10:02):
quiet, you know, are you goingto?
be, able to do.
Do this work, you have to getout there, you have to be at the
forefront.
But it was him, my, my entirefamily and, like I said, those
close family friends who were astrong group for me that were
helping me along the way.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
As you were out there .
You mentioned that.
What was that driving forceinside of you to say, hey, I
want to do this?
What was that light bulb momentto say, hey, I can do this or I
want to do this?
Speaker 1 (10:29):
I mentioned, I'm a person of faith and I prayed
about it.
I talked to four peopleinitially about it and and two
of them said no.
The two that said yes were mymom and my grandma, and I said,
of course they're going tosupport me, because that's what
family does, but other people inthe political space were like
we don't know about this.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Look at you now.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Yeah, and so through prayer and just really talking
to wise counsel, seeking wisecounsel, I thought that this is
something that I can do and ifit is for me to be here, then I
will be successful, and thatdoor was open.
I was appointed in January of2015 and then won my election
(11:08):
and have just kept movingforward.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
You know you were elected to city council and now
you're a judge.
What was that?
And you were a city prosecutoras well, working in that office.
So how was it?
The day you were elected judge,you began that position on the
other side of the courtroomInstead of sitting out here.
Now you're here, you know, withthe robe on yes.
So how was that experience?
How was that?
Speaker 1 (11:36):
So the very first day probably the entire first month
I was very nervous, very scared, because now I am sitting in
the place, like you said, wherethe decisions are made, and I
have to determine whether or notsomeone is going to go prison
and be away from their family.
I have to make decisions oncivil cases where someone was
maybe harmed by another personand to determine whether or not
they're liable and will have topay money.
(11:57):
So I and I'm still nervous attimes.
It's not like that has goneaway, but that very first first
month I was like this is a hugeresponsibility and I am grateful
to be in this position, but Iwant to make sure that I am
doing everything that I need todo in order to make the right
decisions.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
That's good.
That's good and speaking ofthat, you know, we know you have
a commitment to helping thenext generation.
What was the vision for theJustice for All Youth Summer
Camp?
This is the third year orfourth year.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
It'll be my fourth year, oh wow.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
What was the vision for that camp?
Speaker 1 (12:32):
So, during the height of the pandemic in 2020, I was
on a virtual town hall withAuditor Michael Cinziano, and so
people were able to askquestions.
Again, it's virtually, but Ithink I recognized this voice
and someone says Judge Page,what are you going to do for
young people since all of theirsummer camps are canceled?
And I said, oh, I don't know.
(12:54):
You know, I never thought aboutit in a position as a judge.
So I talked to our courtadministration.
I talked to one of mycolleagues on the bench and I
said I want to do a virtualsummer camp, and so it started.
We would do it one hour onFridays and it was on Zoom, and
we would introduce them toprosecutors, defense attorneys
and just the law.
So we had a lot of greatinterest.
(13:15):
We did it again the next yearagain virtual and then parents
continued to reach out.
I didn't do it in 2022.
And I thought how can I makethis an in-person experience?
So, with the support of mycolleagues on the bench, as well
as the Franklin County Board ofCommissioners, with the funding
, we were able to do it inperson, in partnership with the
(13:36):
Ohio State University MoritzCollege of Law and always with
the charities, which was foundedby George Reese, I think.
He's a former OSU basketballplayer, and so the three of our
organizations together are ableto provide this one week free
program to youth in ourcommunity 6th through 12th grade
who are interested in learningabout the legal system.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
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a Baller.
Our mission is to sharegenerously of our time, talent
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(14:19):
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The Financial Solutions Networkis an independently owned and
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We are a multi-generationalprofessional team of advisors
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(14:40):
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We would be honored to help youplan your financial journey.
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Speaker 2 (15:01):
What were some of these last couple of years?
What's been some of thehighlights?
Speaker 1 (15:04):
about the work that I do.
Many days I see people on theirworst day because they are not
sure what is going to happen tothem.
Are they going to get to go outof the front door, which means
that they're going back hometoday, or are they going to go
out the side door, which meansthat they are going to go to
(15:26):
jail or prison?
And so, understanding that, someof my highlights have been when
someone has successfullycompleted probation, so they
have taken the chance that theywere given to get sober, to gain
full employment, sometimes tocomplete their GED and to give
(15:46):
back to the community and tohave them come back and just to
show me the work that they havedone, those.
That is really a lot of myhighlights, and sometimes it's
even when people are releasedfrom prison and it could be like
an early release and theycontinue to do well and just
being able to provideprogramming to the young people
(16:07):
and the community.
So many of them have becomeinterested in the law and they
want to be lawyers, judges, somewant to go into law enforcement
and to be able to plant a seed,because I know how important
that was for me to have someonewho will believe in you.
I always tell my fellowintroverts that there's no right
or?
wrong way to be a lawyer and youknow, those are things that
(16:29):
just really keep me going.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Just listening to you , I have this.
I've heard this said that realchange happens when the people
who need it lead it.
Awesome, when you think aboutthe civil rights movement and
even things going on today.
Real change really happens whenthe people who need it lead it,
and I believe that you're oneof those change agents that
you're in that position to helplead the change and to bring.
(16:53):
But the beauty of what you'redoing is you're bringing others
along with you.
Heard in with your camp, thepartnerships with George Reese
and all I say.
You're bringing others along.
So it's not just.
I think we recognize we can'tdo it by ourselves.
You know we have to bring theright people and the right
people along with us.
Speaking of that, what words ofadvice and encouragement would
you give the young girlsinterested in pursuing law?
Speaker 1 (17:13):
So one I would say never let anybody discourage you
from being an attorney.
And so there are a lot ofmisconceptions and stereotypes
about what a lawyer is or whatthey do.
People assume that all lawyerslike to argue.
That's not the case.
People assume that all lawyerslike to talk a lot.
That's not the case.
I remember remember againbecause people say I'm quiet
(17:36):
Someone told me it was at mychurch that you shouldn't be a
lawyer, you should be alibrarian because you don't like
to talk a lot.
And so I was just thinkingthere may be some librarians who
like to talk a lot, but theyjust enjoy books and the study
of books and that stuff.
But I want to be a lawyer, andso I think it's just really
important to, if that's yourgoal, to continue to pursue it
(17:59):
and to, if you're a person offaith, hold strong to your faith
and you'll achieve all of yourdreams as I listen to you, I
hear this underpin of faiththroughout, throughout this
conversation.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
You know, uh, and just believing that the bible
says this and jeremiah, that Godhas a plan for it, a plan for a
future and a hope.
Yes, we just follow God.
It's not only you've beenreally following God's plan, and
because that, you know howpeople say that they're always
looking for a successor orwhatnot.
But it's really God's blueprintis for you.
(18:29):
Nobody can do what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Because that was God's plan for us, not anybody
else's plan, and I'm so gladthat you listened to the voice
of the Lord and not to them, twoother people who say you know
you can't do this.
You know and look at you now.
This is a podcast about legacy.
You think about that word.
What does that word mean to you?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
That's a wonderful question, and I actually had the
opportunity to speak with aclass of fifth graders earlier
this week and I asked a few ofthem what do they want to be
when they grow up?
And a young man said he wantsto be an NFL player.
And so I said well, why do youwant to be in the NFL?
And he said because, after Iretire, I want people to
remember me.
And so I said so that's what alegacy is.
(19:12):
You want to do something,whether it's as a professional
football player or in any othercareer that impacts change, and
you want people to remember youpositively for the change that
you have impact for the changethat you have made, and so, for
me, legacy is important.
I believe that everybody leavesa legacy.
We normally only talk aboutlegacy in the sense of people
(19:32):
that we think have done theseamazing things, but everybody
leaves a legacy.
We normally only talk aboutlegacy in the sense of people
that we think have done theseamazing things, but everybody
leaves a footprint here on thisearth, and it's deciding if you
want it to be a positive one ora negative one, and so I want to
leave a positive legacy andjust make sure that I, as you
said, am bringing people alongwith me and opening up doors to
(19:53):
show young women and to showyoung people of color that they
are able to do the same thingsand even greater than what I'm
doing.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
That's awesome, you know, part of this whole
building a lifelong legacy.
We have Bill Gates, warrenBuffett, elon Musk all those
guys have a giving pledge wherethey're giving away all their
money to philanthropy, have agiving pledge where they're
giving away all their money tophilanthropy.
So it's part of this legacy.
Now you're a baller now, soyou're part of this deal.
We have what we call a wisdompledge Okay, and that is giving
(20:20):
away all our wisdom.
And the other part of that iswe have to be intentional about
giving away every conversation.
You know, there's no secretsout there, right?
We just have to be intentionalabout every young person.
Every person we come in contactwith is sharing some wisdom.
You know, with leaving themwith a nugget, like you know,
left me with a bunch of nuggetshere.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
That whole introvert thing I like that you know and
that librarian thing you shouldbe a librarian, you're too quiet
.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
You know Lawyers, even lawyers.
When you think of lawyers youalways think about people's
arguing.
You know that's not necessarilythe case, because here you are
with that smile, with that sweetspirit, and you're a judge.
When you think about judges,you're thinking about the people
that's going.
You know they all groggy, brown, whatever.
And then you're smiling atpeople out there.
They're like hey, what's goingon here?
Is this a judge?
(21:04):
What's my sentence?
But that's the blessing of whoyou are.
This brings us to the end ofthis episode.
I want to thank you first offfor answering that call you know
when you saw that on televisionat eight years old and, hey,
this is what I want to do.
And then you said it's not just, it wasn't about you want to do
it for the money or to besuccessful.
(21:24):
It's to help children, it's tohelp those that are defenseless,
so to speak.
You know to be that advocatefor them, to be that person in
the room.
You know fighting for them.
And that's what you're doing onthat bench fighting for people
to give them a second chance.
You know giving them anopportunity.
You know, and so we appreciateyou for that, for that service
that you're doing for thecommunity.
And also thank you for yourcommitment to the Lord Judge
(21:46):
Page about your summer program,your Justice for All Youth
Summer Camp.
Can you tell the audience thatthey have a young person who may
be interested in law?
How can they get involved inthe program?
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Yes, so we have an application that is available on
our court's website and I'mwith the Franklin County Court
of Common Pleas General Divisionso if you just Google that, you
can see the applicationmaterials.
It's on the front page.
Also, you can send an email tojusticeforall all of that
spelled out at gmailcom and youcan get the applications too.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
I want to thank you, our special guest, Judge Page,
for sharing her commitment toserving the community and being
a positive example for younggirls.
Thank you for joining us forthis enlightening and powerful
discussion on building a legacyin service.
Hope this episode wasbeneficial to you.
As always.
Thanks for listening to Be ABaller podcast.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Thank you so much Appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
If you enjoyed our show.
Please share this podcast withfamily and friends.
Be A Baller podcast isavailable on all major podcast
stations.
Be sure to come back next weekas we continue to discuss on how
to build a lifelong legacy.
Until then, don't forget to bea baller.
This podcast was created byCoach Tim Brown and produced and
(23:11):
edited by the video productionclass of Worthington Christian
High School.
And as I think about the work that I do, many days I
see people on their worst daybecause they are not sure what
is going to happen to them.
Are they going to get to go outof the front door, which means
that they're going back hometoday, or are they going to go
out the side door, which meansthat they are going to go to
jail or prison?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome to Be A Baller podcast where we discuss
how to build a lifelong legacy.
I'm your host, coach Tim Brown,today.
I'm excited to have in thestudio with me Judge Giza Page,
and we're just so excited tohave you on the show Today.
On the show, giza will shareher commitment to public service
.
Share her commitment to publicservice.
After favoring serving invarious elected officials, judge
(00:51):
Page was selected to theFranklin County Court of Common
Pleas General Division.
I've known Judge for a while,followed her path to all this
great success, and I'm just soexcited to have this
conversation with you so welcometo Beer Baller Podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Thank you so much.
My pleasure to be here today.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
I'm waiting on you to get on that television show.
You know, I know you come andjudge Judy and all that Judge.
Jason.
Even Steve Harvey has a shownow, yes, he does.
So you didn't bring your gavelwith you, did you?
No, not this time.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
You're not going to pound on the table today are you
, I promise I won't Everybody'sgood in here right.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
We're all good, we're all good, you know.
Growing up you were blessed.
To finish, I think you said youspent your last two years at
Columbus School for Girls.
Yes, how did that all-girlsschool impact your life today?
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So that's a great question.
And I went to co-ed school fromdaycare all the way up until
10th grade and then my mom madethe decision to transition me to
Columbus School for Girls and Ireally enjoyed that experience.
For some people you think, whywould you want to do that with
the last two years of highschool, and particularly you're
now going into a school that isall girls?
(01:51):
But I found the environment tobe very empowering.
I think that it prepared me forcollege and it prepared me for
a career and a life of justbeing, you know, someone who
understands my strengths as awoman and who understands how to
navigate and operate in society.
So I really liked it.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, you left there.
You went to Washington DC.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I went to Georgetown University and I was actually
sharing with someone earliertoday when I first applied
People kept telling me that'sthe school where Patrick Ewan
and Allen Iverson went, you know, and I was like well.
I don't play basketball, sothat's definitely not why I'm
going there, but I did have theopportunity to complete my
undergraduate degree atGeorgetown.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Now leaving Columbus and going to DC.
I'm sure that was a littledifferent, a little different.
Can you talk about thedifference, maybe in the cities
and what?
How does CSG or Columbusprepare you for that experience?
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yes, so going to Washington DC is a big city.
Growing up here in Columbus, weweren't the 14th largest city
at that time and so our city wasnot as diverse.
We did not have as manydifferent like restaurants,
let's say and we just weren'tknown for some of the things
that we are now.
But then going into DC, Itransitioned into an area where
(03:11):
you saw people from alldifferent walks of life, people
spoke many different languages,and I found my experience here
in Columbus and at ColumbusSchool, for Girls did prepare me
for that.
So I believe that I was juststrong in who I am and my
identity, and so I was able toenter into a new space that was
(03:32):
a lot more fast-paced but stillmaintain who I was, and learn a
lot about the city, and I had agreat undergraduate experience.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Hey there Clark Kellogg here.
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Speaker 2 (04:21):
I know you are a strong young woman of faith.
Can you talk about your faithjourney?
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Yes, so my family is a family of faith and I have
always grown up with faith beingat the forefront of our lives
and the decisions that we make.
I was baptized at the age ofnine and I remember that because
it was actually my ninthbirthday, and you know.
Since then, but even before, Ihave always held my faith very
(04:48):
dear to my heart.
It is an integral part of who Iam and it's an integral part of
the decisions that I make in myjourney.
I don't shy away from it.
I pray all the time I read theword and to me it is, like I
said, just really a part of whoI am.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
You know you have a close relationship with your
family, with your mom,grandparents and all that.
Can you talk about thatrelationship and some of those
life lessons that you learnedfrom mom and grandma?
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Yes for sure.
My mom, my grandparents, myentire family, like I said, is a
family of faith, and they arenot short of providing me for
lifelong lessons, and one ofthose being particularly the
importance of education.
And when I was a junior in highschool and my brother would have
been a sophomore we were about18 months apart, but just a year
(05:38):
as far as grades Our momgraduated from Ohio Dominican
University with her associate'sdegree, and so she had a career.
She worked for the state formany years, and even at that
time she had probably had 20years with the state, and so the
reason that she told us thatshe did that, particularly while
we were in high school, wasbecause she wanted to show us
(05:59):
the importance of education andcontinuing our education after
high school, and that's what wewanted to do.
And so for me, it was awesometo be able to cheer my mom on I
mean, she, my brother and Iwould many times have homework
all at the same time, but it wasjust a great family experience,
a great bonding experience, andit really showed me how much
(06:23):
love my mom had for me and howhard she wanted me to work to
pursue my dreams.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
There's something about that sacrificial love of
moms and just parents period,that unconditional love.
Yes for sure, I think, for youseeing that example of education
I always tell people you can'tbe what you don't see Exactly
and seeing that I know that wasa great experience.
You all doing homework togetherand all that yeah.
Now here's a real question whowas the smartest in the family?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Well, I think it depends on the subject.
So math was always my thing.
Okay, my brother is a reallygood writer, oh wow.
And my mom, like English, waslike her thing, so English was
her thing.
So I was more like the math andscience, even though I ended up
in the legal field, whichpeople normally say lawyers
don't like math.
(07:09):
But I really like math.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
That leads to the next question Did you always
want to be a lawyer?
Where did that come from?
Did you always want to be alawyer?
Speaker 1 (07:16):
So I wanted to be a lawyer since I was eight years
old I was watching a show Ithink it was on ABC Family and I
just remember that there weretwo parents who were having a
custody battle over their childand there was a judge in the
show and he said that the sonneeded to have a lawyer in order
to represent like his interests, particularly with the parents
(07:37):
fighting, and so I don'tremember the title of it, but
then I just said I want to be alawyer and I want to help kids.
And I saw the Client that moviea little later in life with one
of my mentors at the time and Isaid this is definitely the
work that I want to do.
So it has stayed with me and Ithink that it has been my
purpose and my path.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Awesome, awesome, who were some of your?
You mentioned mentors, who weresome of your early mentors.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
So early mentors would have been, of course, my
mom, my grandparents,particularly because they all
moved from the South here toOhio.
They had high school diplomas,worked hard, taught me the
importance of education, youknow, and just really being good
people, giving back to theircommunity and being productive
(08:25):
citizens.
And as I began to kind ofprogress and go on, I met a
woman named Joanne Davis whoheld a program at Ohio,
dominican, that was calledVillage to Child.
Remember that?
T Street, yes, t Street, yes.
I know that program well.
She was one of my Y mentors.
I mean just the way that shepoured into young people that
(08:48):
she was not related to, I wouldsay that was one of the first
times I really saw that.
And when I was in high schoolthat was actually the first time
I met then Judge RichardPfeiffer, who later became the
Columbus City Attorney, and Iinterned with him when I was a
senior in high school and he hasbeen one of my mentors since
that time, before college.
(09:10):
But since then I have gathered,or not gathered, but I have
other mentors who have helped mealong the way.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
When you first ran for office.
You know, can you talk aboutthat experience?
Who were some of those persons?
Cause you know we see you outfront.
You know we're wearing yourshirts.
Cause I wore your shirts.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
So we're wearing your shirts, you know we get people
to go.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
But who were those persons?
Maybe behind the scenes?
It really makes this thingbecause you're young.
You were young then.
Yes, you were young.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Who was that?
Who were those people behindthe scenes?
So I had a group of people myfamily, close family friends Mr
Pfeiffer was one of them thatwere kind of telling me where I
need to go, where I need to be.
It was my first time runningfor elected office and for those
who know me and know me well,they know that this wasn't
necessarily something that Iwould have said, I saw myself
doing and I remember even MrPfeiffer he's like you're so
(10:02):
quiet, you know, are you goingto?
be, able to do.
Do this work, you have to getout there, you have to be at the
forefront.
But it was him, my, my entirefamily and, like I said, those
close family friends who were astrong group for me that were
helping me along the way.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
As you were out there .
You mentioned that.
What was that driving forceinside of you to say, hey, I
want to do this?
What was that light bulb momentto say, hey, I can do this or I
want to do this?
Speaker 1 (10:29):
I mentioned, I'm a person of faith and I prayed
about it.
I talked to four peopleinitially about it and and two
of them said no.
The two that said yes were mymom and my grandma, and I said,
of course they're going tosupport me, because that's what
family does, but other people inthe political space were like
we don't know about this.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Look at you now.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Yeah, and so through prayer and just really talking
to wise counsel, seeking wisecounsel, I thought that this is
something that I can do and ifit is for me to be here, then I
will be successful, and thatdoor was open.
I was appointed in January of2015 and then won my election
(11:08):
and have just kept movingforward.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
You know you were elected to city council and now
you're a judge.
What was that?
And you were a city prosecutoras well, working in that office.
So how was it?
The day you were elected judge,you began that position on the
other side of the courtroomInstead of sitting out here.
Now you're here, you know, withthe robe on yes.
So how was that experience?
How was that?
Speaker 1 (11:36):
So the very first day probably the entire first month
I was very nervous, very scared, because now I am sitting in
the place, like you said, wherethe decisions are made, and I
have to determine whether or notsomeone is going to go prison
and be away from their family.
I have to make decisions oncivil cases where someone was
maybe harmed by another personand to determine whether or not
they're liable and will have topay money.
(11:57):
So I and I'm still nervous attimes.
It's not like that has goneaway, but that very first first
month I was like this is a hugeresponsibility and I am grateful
to be in this position, but Iwant to make sure that I am
doing everything that I need todo in order to make the right
decisions.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
That's good.
That's good and speaking ofthat, you know, we know you have
a commitment to helping thenext generation.
What was the vision for theJustice for All Youth Summer
Camp?
This is the third year orfourth year.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
It'll be my fourth year, oh wow.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
What was the vision for that camp?
Speaker 1 (12:32):
So, during the height of the pandemic in 2020, I was
on a virtual town hall withAuditor Michael Cinziano, and so
people were able to askquestions.
Again, it's virtually, but Ithink I recognized this voice
and someone says Judge Page,what are you going to do for
young people since all of theirsummer camps are canceled?
And I said, oh, I don't know.
(12:54):
You know, I never thought aboutit in a position as a judge.
So I talked to our courtadministration.
I talked to one of mycolleagues on the bench and I
said I want to do a virtualsummer camp, and so it started.
We would do it one hour onFridays and it was on Zoom, and
we would introduce them toprosecutors, defense attorneys
and just the law.
So we had a lot of greatinterest.
(13:15):
We did it again the next yearagain virtual and then parents
continued to reach out.
I didn't do it in 2022.
And I thought how can I makethis an in-person experience?
So, with the support of mycolleagues on the bench, as well
as the Franklin County Board ofCommissioners, with the funding
, we were able to do it inperson, in partnership with the
(13:36):
Ohio State University MoritzCollege of Law and always with
the charities, which was foundedby George Reese, I think.
He's a former OSU basketballplayer, and so the three of our
organizations together are ableto provide this one week free
program to youth in ourcommunity 6th through 12th grade
who are interested in learningabout the legal system.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
The team at the Financial Solutions Network is
proud to partner with Tim Brownand bring you this episode of Be
a Baller.
Our mission is to sharegenerously of our time, talent
and financial resources to helpour clients develop financial
plans and wealth managementstrategies that allow them to
live the lives they imagine,while connecting them with
experiences and people thatenhance their quality of life.
(14:19):
Fca is one of thoseorganizations, by helping young
men and women through thedevelopment of their personal
faith.
The Financial Solutions Networkis an independently owned and
managed wealth advisory firmbased in Worthington, Ohio.
We are a multi-generationalprofessional team of advisors
with a combined 83 years ofexperience teaching and managing
(14:40):
financial strategies forindividuals, families,
businesses and institutions.
We would be honored to help youplan your financial journey.
Contact us at 614-505-3025 orvisit our website at tfsnnet.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
What were some of these last couple of years?
What's been some of thehighlights?
Speaker 1 (15:04):
about the work that I do.
Many days I see people on theirworst day because they are not
sure what is going to happen tothem.
Are they going to get to go outof the front door, which means
that they're going back hometoday, or are they going to go
out the side door, which meansthat they are going to go to
(15:26):
jail or prison?
And so, understanding that, someof my highlights have been when
someone has successfullycompleted probation, so they
have taken the chance that theywere given to get sober, to gain
full employment, sometimes tocomplete their GED and to give
(15:46):
back to the community and tohave them come back and just to
show me the work that they havedone, those.
That is really a lot of myhighlights, and sometimes it's
even when people are releasedfrom prison and it could be like
an early release and theycontinue to do well and just
being able to provideprogramming to the young people
(16:07):
and the community.
So many of them have becomeinterested in the law and they
want to be lawyers, judges, somewant to go into law enforcement
and to be able to plant a seed,because I know how important
that was for me to have someonewho will believe in you.
I always tell my fellowintroverts that there's no right
or?
wrong way to be a lawyer and youknow, those are things that
(16:29):
just really keep me going.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Just listening to you , I have this.
I've heard this said that realchange happens when the people
who need it lead it.
Awesome, when you think aboutthe civil rights movement and
even things going on today.
Real change really happens whenthe people who need it lead it,
and I believe that you're oneof those change agents that
you're in that position to helplead the change and to bring.
(16:53):
But the beauty of what you'redoing is you're bringing others
along with you.
Heard in with your camp, thepartnerships with George Reese
and all I say.
You're bringing others along.
So it's not just.
I think we recognize we can'tdo it by ourselves.
You know we have to bring theright people and the right
people along with us.
Speaking of that, what words ofadvice and encouragement would
you give the young girlsinterested in pursuing law?
Speaker 1 (17:13):
So one I would say never let anybody discourage you
from being an attorney.
And so there are a lot ofmisconceptions and stereotypes
about what a lawyer is or whatthey do.
People assume that all lawyerslike to argue.
That's not the case.
People assume that all lawyerslike to talk a lot.
That's not the case.
I remember remember againbecause people say I'm quiet
(17:36):
Someone told me it was at mychurch that you shouldn't be a
lawyer, you should be alibrarian because you don't like
to talk a lot.
And so I was just thinkingthere may be some librarians who
like to talk a lot, but theyjust enjoy books and the study
of books and that stuff.
But I want to be a lawyer, andso I think it's just really
important to, if that's yourgoal, to continue to pursue it
(17:59):
and to, if you're a person offaith, hold strong to your faith
and you'll achieve all of yourdreams as I listen to you, I
hear this underpin of faiththroughout, throughout this
conversation.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
You know, uh, and just believing that the bible
says this and jeremiah, that Godhas a plan for it, a plan for a
future and a hope.
Yes, we just follow God.
It's not only you've beenreally following God's plan, and
because that, you know howpeople say that they're always
looking for a successor orwhatnot.
But it's really God's blueprintis for you.
(18:29):
Nobody can do what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Because that was God's plan for us, not anybody
else's plan, and I'm so gladthat you listened to the voice
of the Lord and not to them, twoother people who say you know
you can't do this.
You know and look at you now.
This is a podcast about legacy.
You think about that word.
What does that word mean to you?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
That's a wonderful question, and I actually had the
opportunity to speak with aclass of fifth graders earlier
this week and I asked a few ofthem what do they want to be
when they grow up?
And a young man said he wantsto be an NFL player.
And so I said well, why do youwant to be in the NFL?
And he said because, after Iretire, I want people to
remember me.
And so I said so that's what alegacy is.
(19:12):
You want to do something,whether it's as a professional
football player or in any othercareer that impacts change, and
you want people to remember youpositively for the change that
you have impact for the changethat you have made, and so, for
me, legacy is important.
I believe that everybody leavesa legacy.
We normally only talk aboutlegacy in the sense of people
(19:32):
that we think have done theseamazing things, but everybody
leaves a legacy.
We normally only talk aboutlegacy in the sense of people
that we think have done theseamazing things, but everybody
leaves a footprint here on thisearth, and it's deciding if you
want it to be a positive one ora negative one, and so I want to
leave a positive legacy andjust make sure that I, as you
said, am bringing people alongwith me and opening up doors to
(19:53):
show young women and to showyoung people of color that they
are able to do the same thingsand even greater than what I'm
doing.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
That's awesome, you know, part of this whole
building a lifelong legacy.
We have Bill Gates, warrenBuffett, elon Musk all those
guys have a giving pledge wherethey're giving away all their
money to philanthropy, have agiving pledge where they're
giving away all their money tophilanthropy.
So it's part of this legacy.
Now you're a baller now, soyou're part of this deal.
We have what we call a wisdompledge Okay, and that is giving
(20:20):
away all our wisdom.
And the other part of that iswe have to be intentional about
giving away every conversation.
You know, there's no secretsout there, right?
We just have to be intentionalabout every young person.
Every person we come in contactwith is sharing some wisdom.
You know, with leaving themwith a nugget, like you know,
left me with a bunch of nuggetshere.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
That whole introvert thing I like that you know and
that librarian thing you shouldbe a librarian, you're too quiet
.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
You know Lawyers, even lawyers.
When you think of lawyers youalways think about people's
arguing.
You know that's not necessarilythe case, because here you are
with that smile, with that sweetspirit, and you're a judge.
When you think about judges,you're thinking about the people
that's going.
You know they all groggy, brown, whatever.
And then you're smiling atpeople out there.
They're like hey, what's goingon here?
Is this a judge?
(21:04):
What's my sentence?
But that's the blessing of whoyou are.
This brings us to the end ofthis episode.
I want to thank you first offfor answering that call you know
when you saw that on televisionat eight years old and, hey,
this is what I want to do.
And then you said it's not just, it wasn't about you want to do
it for the money or to besuccessful.
(21:24):
It's to help children, it's tohelp those that are defenseless,
so to speak.
You know to be that advocatefor them, to be that person in
the room.
You know fighting for them.
And that's what you're doing onthat bench fighting for people
to give them a second chance.
You know giving them anopportunity.
You know, and so we appreciateyou for that, for that service
that you're doing for thecommunity.
And also thank you for yourcommitment to the Lord Judge
(21:46):
Page about your summer program,your Justice for All Youth
Summer Camp.
Can you tell the audience thatthey have a young person who may
be interested in law?
How can they get involved inthe program?
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Yes, so we have an application that is available on
our court's website and I'mwith the Franklin County Court
of Common Pleas General Divisionso if you just Google that, you
can see the applicationmaterials.
It's on the front page.
Also, you can send an email tojusticeforall all of that
spelled out at gmailcom and youcan get the applications too.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
I want to thank you, our special guest, Judge Page,
for sharing her commitment toserving the community and being
a positive example for younggirls.
Thank you for joining us forthis enlightening and powerful
discussion on building a legacyin service.
Hope this episode wasbeneficial to you.
As always.
Thanks for listening to Be ABaller podcast.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Thank you so much Appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
If you enjoyed our show.
Please share this podcast withfamily and friends.
Be A Baller podcast isavailable on all major podcast
stations.
Be sure to come back next weekas we continue to discuss on how
to build a lifelong legacy.
Until then, don't forget to bea baller.
This podcast was created byCoach Tim Brown and produced and
(23:11):
edited by the video productionclass of Worthington Christian
High School.
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