YOUNGSTOWN — Attorney Mark Hanni has been practicing law for nearly two decades. His father Don L. Hanni Jr. was also an attorney, and for years held sway politically as the Democratic Party chief of Mahoning County.

Don’s son Mark, however, is a Republican, and this fall he is running for a seat on Ohio’s 7th District Court of Appeals, which serves Mahoning and seven other eastern Ohio counties. Twice before, Hanni unsuccessfully ran for a seat on this court.

On Nov. 8, Hanni is challenging one of the four incumbent judges on the panel — Democrat Gene Donofrio — to a six-year term that begins Feb. 9, 2023.

Each case on appeal is reviewed by a panel of three judges sitting in a courtroom in downtown Youngstown. One of the judges randomly is assigned to write a decision after reviewing the record and the briefs filed in the case. The decision, once released, can be appealed further to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Donofrio, 69, joined the 7th District court in February 1993. After graduating from Ursuline High School in 1971, he obtained his B.A. degree in 1975 from Youngstown State University. He then moved on to study at the University of Akron College of Law where the judge was awarded his law degree in 1978.

After his admission to the Ohio Bar, Donofrio was in the general practice of law for more than 14 years. He also was an assistant prosecuting attorney for the city of Youngstown as well as Mahoning County. Donofrio also served as counsel for the Mahoning County treasurer and also as an assistant Ohio attorney General.

While on the appellate bench, Donofrio has filled in by assignment on the Ohio Supreme Court. He also is a past chief justice of the Ohio Courts of Appeals Judges Association. He was instrumental in acquiring resources for and oversight of construction in 2005 of the $3.4 million courthouse in downtown Youngstown.

In a new term, Donofrio said he plans to continue the modernization of the court through technology, computerization and up-to-date maintenance of the courthouse.

During his past terms, Donofrio also implemented the off-site court hearing program at high schools in the district and initiated 7th District’s law student intern program. If re-elected, Donofrio said he plans to continue the outreach to educate the public about the judiciary.

“I still really enjoy my work on the court and feel I have become good at. I work very well with my colleagues on the court and my ability, experience, work ethic, reputation for integrity and empathy all qualify me to continue,” Donofrio said.

A part-time faculty member at Youngstown State University, Donofrio also served as legal adviser and board member to alcohol and drug addiction programs and boards.

Donofrio and his wife, Janet, have three daughters — two of them teachers — and reside in Canfield. Donofrio’s brother Anthony is a judge on the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

ANOTHER YSU GRAD

Hanni, meanwhile, also did undergraduate work at YSU where he holds a bachelor’s degree. He received a law degree from Duquesne Law School where was a member of the Law Review in 2003. Hanni has been a practicing in felony courts, municipal and county courts and federal courts, practicing criminal defense, plaintiff civil cases, employment and constitutional law, and tort cases.

A single, full-time working parent, Hanni began attending law school at age 36 while raising his four children after their mother suddenly died in 1998. Prior to law school, he was employed by the Mahoning County Board of Elections for more than 16 years, being its deputy director for 10 years.

Hanni said he aspires to be a judge “because he has seen first-hand as an attorney the positive and negative effect a judge can have on a person who appears before him or her.”

During that time, he said he had found himself struggling with his political identity and associations.

Hanni said for more than a decade, he showed indecisiveness and unwillingness to align with the Democratic Party’s philosophies.

“In 2016 I boldly stood by my moral beliefs and voted for President Trump,” Hanni said — noting his devout Catholicism continues to keep him on a path of being a compassionate human, which allows him “to speak and act with the honesty and integrity necessary when practicing law.”

As a judge, Hanni said he vows to treat every case individually and subordinate personal views and opinions.

“I strongly believe that every person who has contact with a court deserves fairness, consistency and respect. It is my pledge to protect each one of their constitutional rights,” Hanni said.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com