Housing Court Insider
Cleveland Housing Court Judge W. Moná Scott announces Myra Torain Embry is the court’s new Chief Magistrate. Formerly the Deputy Chief Magistrate, she replaces Tracey Gonzalez.
Stepping into the Deputy Chief Magistrate role, in another internal promotion, is Tamela A. Womack. Both moves are effective immediately.
As Chief Magistrate, Embry’s duties include supervising the personnel and assignments of the Magistrates Department, including all regular civil dockets, motions, and nonroutine civil matters. She also will monitor scheduled jury trials, hear civil, criminal and corporate dockets as needed, and coordinate last-minute stays to ensure timely ruling on motions.
As Deputy Chief Magistrate, Womack will assist Embry in various aspects of the Magistrates Department, including developing recommended procedures, as well as consulting with and advising other departments on procedural issues.
Embry has worked for Housing Court for 21 years, joining as Magistrate in August 2000. She became Deputy Chief Magistrate in January 2020. Previously, she was an attorney in the Civil Division of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland for nearly seven years.
Embry earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Spelman College and her Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University.
Womack joined Cleveland Housing Court as Magistrate in July 2020. She previously served for 12 years as Magistrate for Fairborn Municipal Court. Before serving as Magistrate, she worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney and as an assistant public defender.
During her time as Magistrate with Fairborn Municipal Court, Womack presided over various criminal, traffic, civil, eviction and small claims matters. She has served in several volunteer roles collaborating to improve the system of justice. In 2012, she was elected to the board of the Ohio Association of Magistrates, where she served as second vice president, editor of the newsletter, and chairperson of the municipal practice area.
Womack earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowling Green State University and later earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Toledo, College of Law.
