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Judge Anthony Donofrio looks back on his climb to the bench
Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony Donofrio took his seat on the bench on Jan. 2, carrying on his family's tradition of judicial service. He is pictured here with his father retired 7th Ohio District Court of Appeals Judge Joseph Donofrio (center) and brother 7th Ohio District Court of Appeals Judge Gene Donofrio (left). (Photo courtesy of Judge Anthony Donofrio).
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: February 14, 2019
Swearing-in ceremonies often have a special place in the hearts of elected officials and that was certainly the case for Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony Donofrio.
On Dec. 28, 2018, he took his first steps toward continuing his family’s tradition of judicial service, with his father retired 7th Ohio District Court of Appeals Judge Joseph Donofrio and brother 7th Ohio District Court of Appeals Judge Gene Donofrio carrying out the ceremonial swearing-in process.
“It was an incredibly special day for me,” said Judge Anthony Donofrio, who began serving on the common pleas court bench on Jan. 2. “I have a broad range of legal experience. I’m excited to serve the people of Mahoning County and put my 27 years of legal experience to work on the bench.”
“I’m elated for my brother,” said Judge Gene Donofrio. “He worked hard to get elected and I know he will do an excellent job.
“The two of us were very fortunate to be mentored by our father and to have a loving mother. From an early age we learned the core values of integrity, empathy and humility together with the importance of treating everyone fairly.”
Judge Donofrio replaced Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Lou A. D’Apolito, who retired because of age limits.
“I think Judge Donofrio will continue his family’s long tradition of fair and impartial judicial service,” said Judge D’Apolito. “I think he possesses all the qualities that it takes to be an outstanding judge. I have great confidence in Judge Donofrio’s abilities, work ethic and character. I believe his decisions will be measured, thoughtful and fair.”
While becoming a judge has been a goal of Judge Donofrio’s for some time, his path to a legal career was not a direct route.
The Youngstown native graduated from Ursuline High School, receiving his bachelor’s degree in biology from The Ohio State University.
“My coursework also included zoology and I think my initial intention was to pursue a career in environmental law,” said Judge Donofrio.
After being accepted to The University of Akron School of Law, Judge Donofrio said he decided not to attend.
Instead, he returned to Youngstown and was hired by the former Youngstown Hospital Association to work as a blood bank technician.
“While I was in the blood bank I had second thoughts about going to law school, so I reapplied to Akron Law and was accepted,” said Judge Donofrio. “I continued to work full time and went to law school at night.
“Growing up my parents stressed education but they never pushed me to become a lawyer,” he said. “My brother Gene knew from a young age that he wanted to practice law and I think the thought was always in the back of my mind as well.”
“At one point I thought my brother was going to become a veterinarian,” said Judge Gene Donofrio. “However, once he gravitated to the law, he became an excellent trial attorney, so much so that I would even entrust him to represent me in important matters.
“I knew that someday he would seek a judicial position because he expressed that desire to me, but he wanted to become an accomplished lawyer before he ran.”
After receiving his juris doctor in 1990, Judge Donofrio began his legal career as an assistant county prosecutor in the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office.
“I was there for about seven years,” said Judge Donofrio. “I started in the juvenile division, but I spent the majority of my time in the criminal division. My last couple of years I focused on civil matters.”
He left the prosecutor’s office to join the firm now known as Rossi & Rossi Co., where he worked with legendary plaintiff personal injury and domestic relations attorney Daniel L. Rossi and his son Gregg A. Rossi, president of The Mahoning County Bar Association.
Judge Donofrio later served as deputy general counsel at Youngstown-based B.J. Alan Company/Phantom Fireworks.
“The position gave me a great deal of corporate law experience,” he said. “While I loved the job it was not conducive to family life because I was on the road a lot and my children, Carmella and Joseph, were very young at the time.”
In 2011, Judge Donofrio joined the City of Youngstown Law Department as deputy law director.
“I announced my candidacy for judge while I was in the law department, but when the new mayor took over in 2018, he wanted to install his own staff. Fortunately the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office asked me to return as an assistant county prosecutor.”
Linette Stratford, chief assistant prosecutor in the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office worked with Judge Donofrio twice.
“I was a new prosecutor when Judge Donofrio worked in the civil division in the mid-1990s,” said Stratford. “When he returned to the office recently it was great for the office.
“He is a very smart lawyer with a lot of passion and compassion,” she said. “He is very methodical in his approach and I believe he has the right temperament to serve on the bench. He always strives to do the right thing and is willing to listen, which are both characteristics necessary to be a fair and productive judge.”
In addition to serving in a variety of legal positions in the public and private sectors, Judge Donofrio also had his own general law practice for many years, where he handled a wide variety of matters.
The judge has made a point to give back to the community, with an eye toward assisting those suffering from substance abuse problems.
He has served on the board of directors of Addiction Programs of Mahoning County, is a former board member of Treatment Alternatives to Street Crimes and sat on the board of Meridian HealthCare. He also previously chaired the Youngstown Board of Housing Appeals, is a former president of The Youngstown Playhouse and a former legal advisor to the West Side Citizens Coalition.
“My father was an advocate for treating people with drug and alcohol problems who came before the court,” he said. “The Donofrio Home, currently operated by Meridian HealthCare, is named after him to recognize the work that he did to facilitate the development of Youngstown’s first halfway house for alcohol and drug rehabilitation.”
Now that he has taken his seat on the bench, Judge Donofrio said he is exploring whether there is a need for a new specialty docket.
“We already have drug, mental health and veterans treatment court dockets, but I am talking with the other judges to see if there is another need that is not being met,” he said.
“My main focus at the moment is becoming familiar with the court and its procedures so that I can keep my docket moving and ensure the court remains in compliance with Ohio Supreme Court rules.”
Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge R. Scott Krichbaum said he’s delighted to have Judge Donofrio on the common pleas bench.
“I knew Judge Donofrio when he was just beginning his legal career,” said Judge Krichbaum. “I know his father and brother quite well. I practiced before his father when he was on the appellate court and his brother and I are contemporaries.
“I think Anthony brings a wealth of experience to the court and has a wonderful family heritage,” said Judge Krichbaum. “He is truly a good man, honest and fair and I think he will be a credit to the bench.”