Nicole Khoury Biography

Judge Nicole Khoury began her legal career before she ever entered law school, while temporarily working in the Maumee Municipal Court’s Prosecutor’s Office. During her educational years, she was employed part time with Criminal Defense attorney Alan Konop performing legal research skills and eventually, sitting co-counsel with him on several high profile criminal cases, most notably, State of Ohio vs. Fr. Gerald Robinson. She returned to Maumee Municipal Court in a Prosecutor internship her final semester of law school, and then immediately began working for the Lucas County Public Defender’s Office in Maumee, Sylvania, and Oregon courts. Upon her passing the bar exam, she was hired on as a contracted attorney with those courts and began her private practice, both in Ohio and Michigan, primarily focusing on Criminal Defense work where she was counsel on several high level felony and misdemeanor cases as well as Entertainment law for local and national recording artists.

Her constant dedication to the Lucas County Public Defender’s office, primarily in Maumee and Sylvania, gave her the ability to represent thousands of indigent clients while gaining a vast knowledge and experience in trial work. In 2017, she successfully ran for Toledo Municipal Court Judge and continues to use her courtroom to help people be better versions of themselves so our community will continue to progress.

Outside of the courtroom, Judge Khoury has gained statewide recognition for her contribution to our community including, and most importantly, being the founder of Project iAm and its annual fundraiser Acoustics for Autism. She developed this 501c3 organization in an effort to help local families in the Northwest Ohio area help pay for their children’s treatment and therapy for Autism Spectrum disorders. Seventeen years later, this 100% volunteer based organization has given out over $1,000,000 to families in our area and is known to be one of the most loved charities in our great city.   Judge Khoury has earned the respect and accolades of her legal peers by being voted the Ohio State Bar Foundation District and Statewide award recipient for Community Service (lawyers under the age of 40) in 2012 and 2013. She has also been nominated for a Jefferson award in both 2015 and 2016 and was a recipient in 2020.  She received the “Top 20 under 40” and  “Best Female Attorney” award in 2016,  the Maumee Chamber of Commerce “Hometown Hero” (Maumee River) Award in 2017,  the YWCA Milestone award in 2021,  and the Bethesda Community Award and Maumee Elks Distiguished Citizen Awards in 2022.

Nicole’s dedication to her community not only includes her own foundation, but she can also be seen working as a Mentor with Mom’s House (the Sister’s in law Program), a board member of the Pride of Toledo Foundation, and has been an avid community supporter of other private and public charity events including Lucas County D.A.R.T. , Toledo Buffalo Soldiers, Veteran’s Matter, Little Eric’s Foundation, and the Caly Cares Foundation. She has also been fortunate enough to take her love and talent for music to perform publicly in our area for over 20 years.

Ms. Khoury received her J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law in 2001 and her B.A., cum laude, from Hillsdale College in 1998.

She lives in Toledo with her husband and supporter Scott Hayes and continues her dedication to the City of Toledo.