Ret. Judge Michael Jackson was among 20 people inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

Retired Cuyahoga County Judge Michael Jackson was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame for his many accomplishments, including his work to establish the Cuyahoga County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC).

The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame recognizes veterans who continued to serve their communities after their time in the military. As Judge Jackson describes it, it’s all about “service after service.”

Judge Jackson served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from college in 1966. During the Vietnam War he commanded a Marine platoon and then a Marine company. For valor in combat, he was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.

He completed law school after his 13-month tour in Vietnam and spent 30 years in private practice. He then became an assistant county prosecutor, leading the county's mortgage fraud unit before his election to Common Pleas Court.

He developed the first specialized docket for veterans in his county in 2015. Through this approach, the judge assisted over 100 people. Today, the court provides treatment and support to veterans while also holding offenders accountable and is the largest veterans court in the state.

“It was very important to me to reconnect with veterans on a personal basis,” Judge Jackson said. “It helped me as a veteran by participating in the court and I think it really balanced out all of the feelings I have about being a veteran, coming back from combat, and integrating back into the civilian community in a positive way.”

Jackson shared his experiences in a four-part Public Broadcasting Service series “The American Veteran,” which aired in 2021.