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Meet Mahoning Area Court’s newest judge
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: January 24, 2019
She is from a long line of legal professionals and now Mahoning County Area Court Judge Molly Johnson plans to carry on the tradition of public service begun by her great, great grandfather Nils P. Johnson, who served in the Ohio Senate in the 1920s.
“I am really excited to serve the residents of Mahoning County,” said Judge Johnson. “I am a fourth generation lawyer and the granddaughter of 7th District Court of Appeals Judge Nils P. Johnson Sr. so you might say I have the law in my blood.”
Judge Johnson was sworn in on Dec. 27, 2018 by Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick and took the bench on Jan. 3.
She replaces Judge Diane Vettori-Caraballo, who had served on the Mahoning County Area Court No. 3 bench in Sebring, Ohio since January 2003.
The Ohio Supreme Court suspended Judge Vettori-Caraballo in January 2018 in the wake of allegations that she stole at least $100,000 from a former client. She has since been indicted by a federal grand jury and is facing several charges. The case is pending in federal court in Cleveland.
Judge Vettori-Caraballo did not seek re-election last fall.
“I decided to run to restore integrity to the bench,” said Judge Johnson. “Initially there were seven of us running for the seat and one person dropped out.
“I did not run for the Sebring bench, I ran for a term commencing on Jan. 3 and I can be assigned to any of the four Mahoning County Area Courts. I will remain on the Sebring bench at least until Judge David D’Apolito leaves in February to serve on the 7th District Court of Appeals,” Judge Johnson said. “After that, I may be assigned to another court.”
Mahoning County Area Court Judge Joseph Houser first got to know Judge Johnson during the campaign.
“I knew her grandfather, dad and uncles and they were and are all very professional,” said Judge Houser, who serves on the Court No. 2 bench in Boardman. “I have no doubt that she will follow in their footsteps.”
Mahoning County Area Court Presiding/Administrative Judge Scott D. Hunter expressed similar sentiments.
“I have known Judge Johnson’s family for many years and I am confident that she will take to her new role quickly and do a fine job,” said Judge Hunter.
Judge Johnson grew up in Canfield and received her bachelor’s degree in communication and Spanish from Denison University in Granville, Ohio.
“My initial plan was to work for the Central Intelligence Agency,” said Judge Johnson. “When I graduated from college I was offered a job in the oil and gas industry.
“I ended up working for several oil and gas companies in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky and found myself doing a lot of contract work,” she said. “At some point I decided I wanted to get some higher education that would assist me in the oil and gas industry and it was suggested that I consider law school, which is what I decided to do.”
She attended The University of Akron School of Law at night, receiving her juris doctor in 2011.
Judge Johnson began her legal career at her family’s law firm Johnson & Johnson in Canfield, where she continues to practice today.
“When I finished law school, oil and gas was very hot,” she said. “I already had experience in the industry so I decided to focus on oil and gas matters.
“When the industry slowed down a number of years ago, I began practicing real estate, business and other general civil litigation,” she said. “I do a lot of appellate work and practice in the northern and southern districts of Ohio. I am also licensed in Pennsylvania.”
A member of The Mahoning County Bar Association and a two-time president of The Mahoning County Bar Association Foundation, Judge Johnson is on the board of trustees of the YMCA of Youngstown. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Akron Law.
Judge Johnson said she will continue to practice at the family firm since Mahoning County Area Court judges only sit part time.
“My son Remington Walker is so unbelievably excited that I am a judge,” she said. “My son was six during the campaign and he and my father helped me knock on about 8,000 doors.”
Although she is still learning the ropes, she said she does have one very important goal on her agenda, reestablishing a misdemeanor drug court in the county court system.
“Right now we have a felony drug court run by the incomparable Judge Jack Durkin,” said Judge Johnson. “Given the severity of the opioid crisis I think we need to increase our efforts to assist people suffering with addiction.”
Toward the end of 2018, she traveled to Columbus to attend judicial orientation.
“Myself and other judges-elect spent four days learning as much as we could about serving as judges,” said Judge Johnson. “The chief justice addressed us and wished us well. We also took a private tour of the Ohio Supreme Court building.
“I learned a great deal.”
Between Nov. 8 and Dec. 27, Judge Johnson shadowed all three Mahoning County Area Court judges.
“I began with Judge David D’Apolito, but also spent significant time with Judge Hunter and Judge Houser,” she said.
“I’ve known Judge Johnson’s family since I became a lawyer,” said Judge D’Apolito, who serves on the Court No. 4 bench in Austintown.
“The Johnsons were in business before the D’Apolitos and they all have a great reputation and are very conscientious. I have gotten to know Judge Johnson much better since the election,” said Judge D’Apolito. “We will serve together for about a month.
“I think she is very prepared for her new role and will do quite well.”
“I am serving with some of the best judges the county has ever seen,” said Judge Johnson. “They have all been accessible, gracious and welcoming to me. I am excited to embark on whatever challenges lie ahead.”