by Michael John Ryan (Author)
This book was written to inspire anyone who has dealt with poverty, domestic violence, drug addiction, instability, foster care, hopelessness and death. It was also written to motivate people to reach their full potential who have experienced the latter mentioned things as well those who haven't endured the tragedies that befell this young man. This book could easily have been titled "No Excuses" because despite all the challenges this young man faced he rose from the Housing Projects to the Court House and gives a blueprint of how you can rise above expectations too
Author Biography
Michael John Ryan is currently an elected Judge for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas' Juvenile Division. The court is located in Ohio's second largest county with over 1.2 million residents. He has served as judge for the Juvenile court since December of 2012. Prior to his historical election (He was the youngest and only second African American Male to be elected to that court in its 114 year history) he was a Cleveland Municipal Court Judge for seven years. In 2005 he became the youngest African American male elected in the history of the Cleveland Municipal Court. Prior to being elected Judge in the Municipal Court, Judge Ryan functioned as a Magistrate Judge. He was appointed by the Municipal Court judges at age 30. Judge Ryan is a former assistant prosecuting attorney for the City of Cleveland. He also worked as an administrator for the City's Dept. of Public Safety. Additionally, he worked as an associate attorney for the Law offices of Forbes, Fields & Associates. He is a 1996 graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he received the Cleveland Marshall Alumni Scholarship Award and the Louis Stokes Scholarship Award. He is a 1993 graduate from Allegheny College where he earned his B.A. in English and Minor in Political Science. He was the recipient of the Mary Sutton three year renewing scholarship. Prior to law school and college he graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio. He is Robin Ryan's husband and the proud father two adult children Lauren and Michael.