Judge Albert S. Camplese is the son of the late Albert (“Bearcat”) and Gen Camplese. “Bearcat” was the proprietor of “Al Camplese Distributing,” a potato chip and snack food vending business serving Ashtabula County for 42 years. Gen was a housewife, and later served 20 years as the Booking Manager for the Progress Center. Together, this modest couple ensured the values of hard work, sacrifice, and intellectual curiosity were instilled in each of their children. Albert and his two siblings, Dennis and Renee, soared academically, and each attended college via an academic scholarship.

On May 20, 2020, Judge Camplese graduated cum laude from Ohio Northern University. Two days later, he boarded a plane to Belgium where he began an adventure of a lifetime with his lifelong friend, Dario DiMare. They had set a goal to “backpack” around the world, and ultimately visited 35 countries.

Most remarkably, this trip was accomplished eleven years before a single website had yet been established on the internet. It was entirely self-planned, self-financed, and accomplished without the support of any tour group or organization. They were 22 years old!

Upon returning the United States, Judge Camplese entered Cleveland-Marshall School of Law. He earned his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1985; and shortly thereafter, he established a private law practice. From 1985 to 1993, he served with national distinction as the Municipal Prosecutor of the City of Ashtabula.

In 1993, Judge Camplese was elected to the bench of the Ashtabula Municipal Court where he served for 22 years. He assumed the bench of the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas, Probate-Juvenile Division, in 2015. Judge Camplese’s thirty-three years of judicial experience has been served entirely as a full-time (not part-time) judge. He is also the only candidate who has served as a Common Pleas Court judge (12 years).

Judge Camplese is a much sought-after lecturer, and has presented at numerous state and local juvenile, probate and professional conferences. His extensive past and present professional associations and memberships include: President of the Northern Ohio Judge’s Association; the Association of Municipal and County Court Judges of Ohio; the American Judges Association; the National Assessment Center Association; the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges; the Ohio Association of Probate Judges; the Ohio State Bar Association and the Ashtabula County Bar Association.

The judge is a 1976 graduate of St. John High School, and is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. He is a member of Our Lady of Peace Parish, and has generously given his time, effort and talent to numerous local civic organizations throughout his career.

Judge Camplese presently resides in Saybrook Township with his wife, Krysti (Johnson). He has raised three daughters, Kaleigh (Sgt. James) Riddell, Taylor Grafton and Alexandra (Anthony) DeGeorge. He is also a proud grandfather of five grandchildren.