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Retired 7th District Judge Donofrio reflects on his career
Seventh District Court of Appeals Judge Gene Donofrio retired from the bench on Jan. 31. Days before he stepped down, the court held a special session to pay tribute to his decades of service. During the Jan. 28 event, Donofrio's wife Janet and their daughters Lindsay, Jenna and Carly unveiled his judicial portrait. The five are pictured here surrounding the portrait. (Photo courtesy of retired Judge Gene Donofrio).
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: March 9, 2023
He replaced his father on the 7th District Court of Appeals in Youngstown, playing a key role in the building’s relocation and starting programs designed to inspire and assist future generations of lawyers and judges, but on Jan. 31 Judge Gene Donofrio retired after serving on the bench for 30 years.
“I was really blessed by God to have a job that I loved for so many years and to work with fellow judges and staff that made it a pleasure to come to work every day,” said Donofrio, who decided to retire after losing the November 2022 election to his Republican opponent attorney (now 7th District Court of Appeals Judge) Mark Hanni.
“It was quite a ride, but now I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family and friends and embracing new opportunities,” said Donofrio, 69.
Just days before he stepped down, colleagues, public officials and family members paid tribute to Donofrio’s decades of service during a special session of the 7th District Court of Appeals.
During the Jan. 28 event, Donofrio’s wife Janet and their daughters Lindsay, Jenna and Carly unveiled his judicial portrait.
It will hang in the courtroom near previous bench mates and predecessors, alongside the portrait of his father, the late Judge Joseph Donofrio, who was on the bench for over 20 years.
Presiding and Administrative Judge David A. D’Apolito directed the session, which featured a number of guest speakers, including Donofrio’s former colleagues retired Judge Joseph Vukovich and former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Mary DeGenaro, current judges Cheryl L. Waite and Carol Ann Robb, former court administrator Rob Budinsky, Donofrio’s brother Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony Donofrio and former Mahoning County Commissioner Edward Reese.
Donofrio worked closely with Reese to obtain funding and oversee the construction of the current court of appeals building at 131 W. Federal St.
“It was a fitting ceremony for one of the longest-tenured court of appeals judges in the state, who left his mark on this court in numerous ways over the years,” said Judge D’Apolito. “Judge Donofrio played an integral role in getting the court of appeals a standalone courthouse and started the Back to School Program, where the judiciary travels to local schools within the eight-county jurisdiction to educate students on the judicial branch.
“He embodies all of the qualities that a judge should possess,” said Judge D’Apolito. “He is knowledgeable about the law, ethical, honest, fair and exhibits great patience in the courtroom.
“I have learned so much from him not only about the law and how to administer the court but about how a judge should carry oneself. He is a great friend, who will be missed.”
Seventh District Court Administrator and Magistrate Beth Aurilio said she’s grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from such a “well-respected” jurist.
“I have observed Judge Donofrio’s compassion and respect from the bench toward each and every counsel and litigant and toward all the staff and judiciary at the court of appeals,” said Aurilio.
“I was extremely touched by the ceremony,” said Donofrio. “I have had the privilege to serve with some very prestigious judges over the years. One of them was Judge Joseph E. O’Neill, who along with my father Judge Joseph Donofrio were two of my key mentors on the bench.
“I am very proud of the fact that my colleagues and I always made decisions as a team and even when we disagreed we did so in an agreeable fashion.”
Judge Anthony Donofrio said his brother was most deserving of the honor.
“Gene has made significant contributions to the legal community, both during his time as a lawyer and a judge,” said Judge Anthony Donofrio.
“He’s had the opportunity to create new law, sit by assignment on the Ohio Supreme Court and oversee the construction of the beautiful courthouse where the 7th District is now located.
“Gene’s hard work, dedication and passion for the law have been a great inspiration to me personally,” Judge Donofrio said. “He’s always been there for me and supported me in whatever it was I wanted to do.”
A native of Youngstown, Donofrio received his bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University, where he majored in combined social studies and minored in criminal justice.
“I knew I wanted to go to law school since I was a child so I thought I would take an undergraduate major that I would really enjoy,” said Donofrio. “According to my mother, I made a stick drawing in kindergarten that said I wanted to be a lawyer, only I misspelled lawyer.
“I acquired the interest from my father, who was there to answer my questions but never pushed me to be a lawyer.”
After earning his juris doctorate from The University of Akron School of Law in 1978, Donofrio began his legal career as an assistant Youngstown city prosecutor.
“I really enjoyed the work and I got some great experience in the courtroom.
“I also developed a great deal of respect for the role that municipal courts play in the justice system,” said Donofrio.
Since it was a part-time position, Donofrio started his own law practice.
Three years later, he left the prosecutor’s office. He continued to practice law full time for a total of 15 years.
“I did general civil litigation, domestic relations and probate work,” said Donofrio. “I did medical malpractice defense and plaintiff personal injury work for a period of time.
“During my time in private practice, I also did some work as an assistant attorney general for the state of Ohio, represented the Mahoning County Treasurer’s Office and worked for the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office.”
After his father announced he was retiring in 1991, Donofrio threw his hat into the ring, winning the 1992 election. He was unopposed for the next four elections.
“When I took the bench in 1993, the court was located in the Mahoning County Courthouse and we had very little space,” said Donofrio. “There were 20 of us in the courtroom where Judge Maureen Sweeney is now located.
“My colleagues and I spent about ten years looking for spaces where we could relocate the court,” said Donofrio. “We wanted the court to stay in downtown Youngstown. We visited a number of freestanding court of appeals courthouses and people told us what they would have done differently so we learned a lot.
“After pursuing a number of options I spoke to Board of Commissioners Chair Ed Reese. He wanted to make things happen so we entered into a partnership with the Youngstown Community Improvement Corporation.”
The 7th District Court of Appeals moved into its new building in 2006.
“It’s a beautifully designed building and we did keep it in Youngstown,” said Donofrio.
While he’s proud of the part he played in securing a new courthouse, Donofrio said his greatest achievements involved helping to keep the technology current, hearing cases in a timely manner, writing well-thought-out opinions and ensuring adherence to the rule of law.
“When I started, we used a word processor and our docket was kept by hand,” said Donofrio. “Today we have a software system that tracks our docket and all our deadlines and hearing dates.
“Our technological abilities were especially important during Covid because we were able to utilize Zoom to keep up with our docket,” said Donofrio. “While the trial courts could not function, we held hearings and kept everyone safe.
“The court is now back to live hearings.”
During his tenure as a court of appeals judge, Donofrio started the Back to School Program to expose high school students to the inner workings of the court and the intern program, which provides summer internships to law students from the area.
“I have a passion for public outreach and I always believed that transparency is very important to ensure that public officials remain accountable,” said Donofrio.
Throughout his career Donofrio has been very active in the community, serving on the board and as counsel for Addiction Programs of Mahoning County and on the board of trustees of The Mahoning County Bar Association, where he continues to be a member of the Lawyers Assistance Committee.
Donofrio was also elected chief justice of the Ohio Courts of Appeals Judges Association and is a founding member and past president of the Nathaniel R. Jones American Inn of Court.
He was asked to sit on the Ohio Supreme Court by former chief justices Thomas Moyer and Maureen O’Connor multiple times.
In addition, he was a member of the parish council at his former church St. Christine.
“I was also on the board of the Donofrio Home halfway house, which was named after my father,” said Donofrio. “When he was a municipal judge, he saw people coming through the courts with addiction problems and wanted to do what he could to help. Meridian HealthCare now administers the services provided by the Donofrio Recovery Centers.
“Like my father, I’m committed to helping those struggling with substance abuse, especially the indigent population.”
While he has retired from the bench, Donofrio continues to serve as an adjunct professor in the criminal justice department at YSU, as he has done since 1990.
“I also work with YSU’s moot court team, which has been very successful and gone to nationals in the past,” said Donofrio.
“I do have several part-time opportunities on the table and I’m taking some time to think them over.”
In the meantime, he plans to spend more time with family and friends, relax and catch up on chores around the house.
“We spent President’s Day weekend at a ski resort and during the summer we like to go to Geneva State Park, where I keep a boat,” said Donofrio. “I love to fish and refer to the area as the ‘Northcoast.’”