Susan J. Dlott

Susan Judy Dlott (born in 1949) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

Early life and education

Dlott was born in Dayton, Ohio to Jewish Russian immigrant parents. Dlott received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1970 and a Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law in 1973.

Career

She was a law clerk to Alvin Krenzler and Jack Day of the Ohio Court of Appeals from 1973 to 1974, then became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio from 1975 to 1979.

Personal life

Dlott's first husband was builder and developer Austin Eldon Knowlton. Her second husband was Stanley M. Chesley; they married in 1991. Chesley died in 2025.

In 2004, Chesley purchased "what is believed to be the most expensive single-family home listed in Greater Cincinnati, possibly ever," a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom, French chateau-style home on nestled into of private green space with of living space. The estate has a wine cellar and two four-car garages with apartments on top. on December 4, 2015. Chesley and Dlott, who were held at gunpoint, both sustained injuries. The three perpetrators were apprehended and pleaded guilty, and in April 2016, the men were all sentenced to 34 years in prison.

Dlott was described by the Cincinnati Enquirer in 2002 as "sometimes eccentric, often unconventional." Dlott has described herself as a "lenient judge". She is known for her fondness for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.