The Honorable Moore C. Moore, a Cleveland Municipal Court judge since 2004, had the legal profession in mind at an early age. The oldest of four children, she followed the footsteps of her father, Attorney William D. Moore, who built a practice dedicated to helping low- and middle-class working families.
“Education was always emphasized in growing up,” recalls Judge Moore, who graduated from Shaker Heights High School and received her Bachelor’s degree in English from Spelman College.
The lure of family and a law school scholarship prompted her return to Cleveland where she attended Case Western Reserve University to earn her juris doctorate. Having passed the Ohio State Bar in 1987, Moore embarked on a political career where she served as both a civil attorney and public defender at the Legal Aid Society. She credits these experiences as helpful in maintaining her focus on public service. “The people at Legal Aid were a major influence on me. Their commitment was truly contagious.” Moore’s dedication to helping indigent clients was acknowledged by the Claude E. Clark award she received for outstanding service.
She served as Chief Prosecutor for the City of Cleveland and as a Grand Jury prosecutor for Cuyahoga County. Her ultimate goal of becoming a judge materialized when she was elected to the Cleveland Municipal Court in 2003. “Clearly, the breadth and depth of these experiences have also given me the well roundedness, capability and credibility to be an effective judge,” notes Moore who also credits her close family for inspiring and supporting her in all of her endeavors.
Other honors received include the UNCF Eagle award, County Prosecutor’s Eagle award, Phenomenal Woman Foundation award, National Council of Negro Women Meritorious Service award, Murtis Taylor’s Ebony Rose award, the Justice Award from El Hasa Court #47, Phi Delta Kappa award for outstanding service and support of school youths in the greater Cleveland area, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Zeta Omega Chapter Civic Leader of the Year award. Moore has been inducted into the Shaker Heights High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame. She has been a requested guest speaker at many churches and events.
Judge Moore has served as the Mental Health Court judge and currently presides over the Greater Cleveland Drug Court where she inspires people to begin and maintain their journey to sobriety. She has fought for greater minority participation and has introduced innovative ideas such as Therapeutic Recovery Yoga and has advocated for legislation that prioritizes treatment over incarceration.
Judge Moore is very involved in the community; she participates in several mentoring programs and has had many students shadow her and fulfill requirements of their Senior Projects. She is a yearly participant in the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar’s 3Rs program where civic leaders engage and teach students about Rights, Responsibilities and Realities. She is particularly proud of the Get on Track program she co-founded and implemented to help young people turn their lives around by obtaining a G.E.D./high school diploma and participating in community service and lifestyle/employment training. Her chambers has a closet full of shirts and ties to give to young men who need to look professional for special occasions and has bailiffs give tutorials on “How to tie a tie” in the courtroom. She also chairs the Mock Trial Competition for the Cleveland/East Cleveland Municipal School Districts where students enjoy increasing their awareness of the law by enacting original fictional cases that she devised.
Highlights of her tenure on the bench include presiding over a case which drew international attention – the arraignment of Ariel Castro who abducted and held captive three young women for a decade, and initiating Valentine’s Day Weddings at Tower City in response to couples wanting to marry on a February 14th which was a Saturday and the courts were closed; it has become a Cleveland Municipal Court tradition. Just recently she hosted the 20th Anniversary Luncheon Celebration & Awards Ceremony for the Greater Cleveland Drug Court.
Known for her compassion and keen sense of justice, Judge Moore once sentenced a defendant, a barbershop owner, to spend a day giving free haircuts to students and senior citizens. She also ordered a man who darted out on the field during a Browns game to help clean up after the tailgaters. One of her most memorable moments occurred in 2019 when her peers—the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association—selected her to receive the Sarah J. Harper award. As evidence of the fact she feels a judge should be “impactful,” Moore has a cache of cards and letters of former defendants who thanked her for having a positive influence in their lives.
Moore is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Omega Chapter, in which she spearheaded and co-chaired the first cotillion in 2003 and was pleasantly surprised to receive a Visionary Award at the 2019 cotillion. She is a former member and Vice-President of the Cleveland Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and past president of the Ludlow Community Association, a neighborhood known nationally for being a model of racial tolerance and integration.
Judge Moore is a member of the Ohio Bar Association and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association where she served a three-year term on the Board of Trustees; the Norman S. Minor Bar Association, where she co-sponsored and presented at several provocative CLE (Continuing Legal Education) seminars; and the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association.
She is also the author of two published books, Eyes Like Mine--a work of historical fiction--and Make the World Your Oyster, the Ultimate Travel Guide, and is currently working on a contemporary novel. She grew up in the Episcopal church and currently attends Imani Temple Ministries.
Judge Moore is married to Brian E. Siggers, and they have two adult children, Brian and Brooke. She is an avid reader who has a vast collection of African American literature and enjoys travel, writing, playing tennis and going to the movies.