Login | September 17, 2026
Mahoning County Magistrate Ross Smith discusses his journey to the bench
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: September 17, 2026
As a teenager at Winter Haven Senior High School in Florida, Ross Smith played multiple sports and dreamed of one day representing star athletes as a bilingual sports agent.
While his career plans always included attending law school, the way in which he envisioned using his degree has evolved quite a bit.
“My plan was to become fluent in Spanish, obtain a Ph.D. in sports administration and get my law degree with the goal of representing English- and Spanish-speaking athletes,” said Smith.
He did go on to earn a master’s degree in sports administration from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor in 2004 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, but he never finished his Ph.D.
And though Smith briefly worked for a sports agent after graduating law school, he quickly pivoted to practicing law full time.
He initially served as an assistant prosecutor in the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office and then as a criminal defense and domestic relations attorney in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Later, he became a supervising attorney in the Trumbull County office of the Ohio Public Defender.
He was also selected to serve as an attorney on the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
For more than 15 years, he was appointed to represent individuals charged with federal crimes who were unable to afford an attorney.
Now a magistrate for Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge R. Scott Krichbaum, Smith spends his days presiding over hearings and trials, reviewing evidence, issuing rulings and writing decisions.
“I love what I am doing,” said Smith. “Coming from more of a criminal litigation background, it’s been very nice to see that the fact patterns are just as interesting in civil matters as they are in criminal cases.
“One of my favorite things is jury trials,” said Smith. “I recently presided over two medical malpractice jury trials — one in which there was a $25 million verdict for the plaintiff and another which resulted in a defense verdict.”
Smith is still new to the bench, having been sworn in by Judge Krichbaum in January 2026.
Judge Krichbaum hired Smith to replace his former longtime Magistrate Tim Welsh, who retired at the end of February.
“Ross appeared in front of me numerous times while a practicing attorney,” said Judge Krichbaum. “He always did an exemplary job for his clients.
“We also developed a friendship over the years because we both enjoy golfing,” Judge Krichbaum said. “I never thought I would have to replace my magistrate, but when I needed to do so, it was a blessing to be able to hire someone who I knew would be qualified for the job.
“I am continually impressed by Ross’ work product and ethics and the dedication he shows to the job.
“Lawyers may not always agree with his rulings, but I think they understand that he’s fair, listens to both sides and puts in the work before making a decision,” said Judge Krichbaum. “I think the attorneys who appear in front of him respect that.”
Judge Krichbaum said attorneys have the right to challenge a magistrate’s decision when they believe there is an error and want it reviewed.
“But I have not overruled one decision that Ross has made,” said Judge Krichbaum. “I think that speaks to the quality of his work, his understanding of the law and the care he puts into reaching his decisions.”
Outside of the court, Smith continues to be active in the Mahoning County Bar Association.
Smith previously served on the association’s board of trustees and is a former president-elect.
He is currently a member of the board at Animal Charity of Ohio.
As much as he enjoys being a magistrate, Smith is preparing to make yet another career change.
He’s hoping to take Judge Krichbaum’s seat on the bench when his term ends in early February 2027.
“I’ve always viewed serving as a judge to be the pinnacle of our profession,” said Smith, who is running on the Republican ticket in the Nov. 3 election. “I have practiced law and spent more than two decades in the courtroom, and I think that experience really matters.
“A judge should understand what it’s like to actually litigate cases, represent clients and handle the challenges that come with being in the courtroom,” said Smith.
“Given how the political landscape has changed over the past several years and considering the experience and qualifications I bring to the table, I really felt a sense of responsibility to run for this office.”