Profile

Judge Mary Jane Trapp is recognized for her distinguished legal knowledge and experience. Judge Trapp has 25 years in trial and appellate practice and is a leader at the state and national level on issues of administration of justice and legal reform. Judge Trapp served for six years on the Ohio Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee and its appellate rules subcommittee and three years as the designee of the Ohio Courts of Appeals Judges Association on the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure. Judge Trapp is the past President of the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA), and served as the OSBA delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. She now serves in that deliberative body as the delegate from the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a Life Fellow of the Ohio State Bar Foundation. She is a Life Member, Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District.

Judge Mary Jane Trapp is recognized for her leadership. Judge Trapp received the 2009 Founders’ Award from the Ohio Women’s Bar Association, its highest award for professional excellence. She is the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation’s 2011 Presidential Award winner in recognition of her leadership in advancing pro bono service both within her appellate district and statewide. She was instrumental in establishing mediation for homeowners facing foreclosure in each of the counties she serves. Judge Trapp is the first Ohio Court of Appeals judge ever to have been selected for a prestigious Henry Toll Fellowship by the Council of State Governments as one of 48 promising state leaders from across the country. In May, 2012, Judge Trapp received the Ohio State Bar Association's Nettie Cronise Lutes Award created to honor women lawyers who have "improved the legal profession through their own high level of professionalism and who have opened doors for other women and girls."

Judge Mary Jane Trapp has a proven track record of serving families and has been focused on protecting children and families throughout her career. Judge Trapp offers to the people of Ohio a different background and perspective, forged in the crucible of twenty-five years, representing working families, children at risk, and small business owners. Before taking the bench, Judge Trapp’s law practice took her to the trenches of both state and federal courts and to all levels of the justice system --- from small claims court to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Judge Trapp graduated from Mount Holyoke College, cum laude in May, 1978 and received her law degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1981. She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1981 and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court in 1987.

Mary Jane Trapp was elected to the Ohio Court of Appeals, Eleventh Appellate District, in November 2006, and served as its Presiding/Administrative Judge in 2009 and 2010, after serving as its Administrative Judge in 2008. Judge Trapp has served by appointment of the Chief Justice as a visiting judge on the Supreme Court of Ohio and in the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Appellate Districts.

Judge Mary Jane Trapp has earned a reputation for fairness. Judge Trapp is committed to improving the administration of justice and legal reform in order to assure access to a judicial system in which the public has faith and confidence. She is committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting the Constitution through the impartial and independent application of substantive and procedural law to the particular facts of each case in a timely manner. Judge Trapp is committed to promoting public outreach to foster greater confidence in the judicial system by greater public understanding of the law and the role of judges.

We need Judge Trapp's proven experience serving the citizens of Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Portage, and Trumbull counties.

We need to re-elect Appellate Court Judge Mary Jane Trapp.

EDUCATION

Case Western Reserve University, School of Law, Cleveland, Ohio

  • J.D., January 1981
  • Ohio Women in Law Journal, Editor, 1979-1980

Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts

  • A.B., cum laude, May 1978
  • Honors Thesis in Political Science - The Pluralist Model of the American Political Process and Women’s Interest Groups
  • Outstanding Student Leader, 1978
  • College Democrats, Chair, 1976-1977
  • People Concerned about Women in the Law, Coordinator, 1976-1977
  • Blue Key Campus Guide
  • Glee Club
  • Coro Mount Holyoke Choral Touring Group

Columbus School for Girls, Columbus, Ohio

  • College Preparatory Curriculum,  May 1974
  • Presidential Classroom for Young Americans, Appointed Representative, Washington D.C., 1974
  • Mary Jane Rodabaugh History Award, 1974

LICENSURE

  • Supreme Court of Ohio, May 1981
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, May 1981
  • United States Supreme Court, June 1987

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE

Eleventh District Court of Appeals Judge, term commencing February 9, 2007

  • Administrative Judge, 2008-2009
  • Presiding and Administrative Judge, 2009-2011

SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS

Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial Appointments

  • State v. Harrison, 122 Ohio St. 3d 512, 2009-Ohio-3547
  • Appellate District Judicial Appointments
  • Eighth District Court of Appeals, 2009 & 2011
  • Seventh District Court of Appeals, 2009, 2010 & 2011
  • Ninth District Court of Appeals, 2010, 2012
  • Sixth District Court of Appeals, 2011

Special Appointments

  • Supreme Court of Ohio on Commission on Continuing Legal Education, Hearing Officer, In re Notice of Noncompliance 2007 Reporting Year Augustus Francis O’Neil, Case No. CCLE APP 2007-21157, 2007
  • Five Panel Judge Commission, Panelist, In re Judicial Campaign Against Fred Beery, Supreme Court Case No. 2008-2235, 2009

OPINIONS SELECTED FOR PUBLICATION

  • Davis v. Killing, 171 Ohio App.3d 400, 2007-Ohio-2303
  • Burnett v. Motorists Mutual Insurance Co., 172 Ohio App.3d 455, 2007-Ohio-1639
  • Simeone v. Girard City Bd. Of Education, 171 Ohio App.3d 633, 2007-Ohio-1775
  • Trans Rail Am. Inc., v. Hubbard Twp., 172 Ohio App.3d 499, 2007-Ohio-3478
  • Manley v. Heather Hill, 175 Ohio App.3d 155, 2007-Ohio-6944
  • State v. Andrews, 177 Ohio App.3d 593, 2008-Ohio-3993
  • Am. Fedn. & Mun. Emples. Local # 74 v. City of Warren, 177 Ohio App.3d 530, 2008-Ohio-3905
  • Vogias v. Ohio Farmers Ins. Co, 177 Ohio App.3d 391, 2008-Ohio-3605
  • Thompson v. Smith, 178 Ohio App.3d 656, 2008-Ohio-5532
  • McWreath v. Ross, 179 Ohio App.3d 227, 2008-Ohio-5855
  • Ross v. Nappier, 185 Ohio App.3d 548, 2009-Ohio-6995
  • Spalla v. Fransen, 188 Ohio App.3d 666, 2010-Ohio-3461
  • Spalla v. Fransen, 188 Ohio App. 3d 658, 2010-Ohio-3460
  • Monreal Funeral Home, Inc. v. Farmers Ins. Co., 189 Ohio App.3d 1, 2010-Ohio-3805
  • Brannon v. Austinburg Rehabilitation &Nursing Center, 190 Ohio App.3d, 662, 2010-Ohio-5396
  • Ohio Assn. of Pub.School Emps/AFSCME Local 4, AFL-CIO v. Madison Local School Dist. Bd.  of Edn., 190 Ohio App.3d 254, 2010-Ohio-4942 (concurring/dissenting opinion)
  • State v. Minear, 191 Ohio App. 3d 774, 2010-Ohio-6577 (dissenting opinion)
  • JTO, Inc. v. State Auto Mut. Ins. Co., 194 Ohio App.3d 319, 2011-Ohio-1452
  • In re Guardianship of Spagnola, 195 Ohio App.3d 719, 2011-Ohio-5602
  • Greene v. Cuyahoga Cty., 195 Ohio App.3d 768, 2011-Ohio-5493
  • Miller v. Motorist Mut. Ins. Co., 196 Ohio App.3d 753, 2011-Ohio-6099


JUDICIAL PUBLICATIONS

  • "Civic Learners and Leaders." Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 35. No. 1, February, 2012
  • "Batson Challenges in Civil Trials-Determining Whether a Peremptory Challenge Was Racially Motivated", Lake Legal Views, Lake County Bar Association, Vol. 35, No.4, April, 2011
  • Avatar Advocates,” Lake Legal Views, Lake County Bar Association, Vol. 33, No. 4, April, 2010
  • A Lawyer’s Duty of Safekeeping Funds Goes Beyond IOLTA,” Lake Legal Views, Lake County Bar Association, November 2009
  • “Use of Social Networking Tools in the Courtroom: Tweeting and Texting; Trouble or Twaddle,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 29, Number 5, November 2009
  • “More Procedural Rule Changes are in the Pipeline,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 28, No.6, December 2008
  • “It’s All About the Record,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 28, No. 4, July 2008
  • “A Review of the Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 28, No. 3, May 2008
  • “Call to Action – Pro Bono,”  Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 28, No. 1, January 2008
  • “What to do About Fido & Friskie?” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 27, Vol. 3, June 2007    “Juror Privacy and the First Amendment,” Lake Legal Views, Lake County Bar Association, April 2007 

JUDICIAL LECTURES

  • "One Judge's Tips for Written Advocacy and Effective Motion Practice," Geauga County Bar Association, A View from the Bench, May 4, 2012
  • "Professionalism-What Goes Around, Comes Around," Lake County Bar Association Family Law Seminar, March 30, 2012
  • "May it Please the Court (or Not),” American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Law Practice Section, Annual Convention Seminar, August 6, 2011
  • “Record Breaking News: Amendments to App. R. 9,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Appellate Practice seminar, June 3, 2011
  • “The Appellate Process,” Davis & Young Annual Law Seminar, April 15, 2011
  • “A View from the Bench-Persuasion & Pitfalls,”, Ohio State Bar Association, April 14, 2011
  • “Appellate Seminar,” Ohio State Bar Association 2010 Annual Convention, May 5, 2010
  • “Women in the Profession-Where We Should Be.” Ohio Women’s Bar Association, May 5, 2010
  • “What Appellate Court Judges Want You to Know,” National Business Institute, October 23, 2009
  • “The Least Understood Branch,”  Lake County Democratic Women’s Club, September 26, 2009
  • “The Least Understood Branch,” Geauga County Democratic Women’s Caucus,  April 8, 2009
  • “Appellate Advocacy Seminar,” Lorman Education Services, March 12, 2009
  • “Technology and Theory of Appellate Opinion Writing,” Eleventh Appellate District Attorney CLE,  October 31, 2008
  • “The Least Understood Branch,”  Ohio League of Women Voters, Trumbull County, May 17, 2008
  • “Appellate Seminar,” Ohio State Bar Association 2008 Annual Convention, May 16, 2008
  • “The Least Understood Branch,”  Jefferson High School, Ashtabula County, Ohio, March 18, 2008
  • “Appellate Brief Writing and Oral Argument,” Ohio State Bar Association, District 18 CLE Presentation, October 16, 2007

ATTORNEY EXPERIENCE

My career as a practicing attorney spanned a wide range of notable experiences, from serving as lead counsel in at least 25 major appellate cases and 30 major jury trials, to being certified as co-counsel in capital cases.  In addition to the seminal cases of my career, I have had the opportunity to serve as counsel in over 100 arbitrations, small civil and criminal bench trials, at all levels of state court, including the Supreme Court of Ohio, common pleas and municipal courts, the Court of Claims; as well as being appointed by probate courts as counsel in civil commitment hearings including probable cause and full hearings.  Most notably, I served as mediator, arbitrator, and as a guardian ad litem for children for the domestic relations court.  On the federal level, I have had the opportunity to practice in the federal courts of Ohio and Pennsylvania.  I also had the opportunity to practice before both state and federal administrative agencies.  In addition to “lawyering,” a major aspect of my professional life included active participation in community service as a bar association leader and volunteer at a local, state, and national level.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

  • Apicella & Trapp, Cleveland, Ohio, Managing Partner, 1986-2007
    General Civil and Criminal Trial and Appellate Practice with an emphasis on tort, child custody, and probate litigation.  Martindale Hubbell “AV” Attorney Rating.  Martindale Hubbell “AV” Firm Rating
  • City of Cleveland Heights, Police Department, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Civil Service Interviewer,  2002-2006   
  • Trapp Family Real Estate Business, Columbus, Ohio, Commercial Real Estate Development Counsel, 1990-2003
  • Stein, Trapp, & Associates, Cleveland Ohio, Partner, 1981-1986
    General Practice of Law - including areas of civil, criminal, bankruptcy, and probate law.
  • Krause, Klein, & Associates, Cleveland, Ohio, Associate, 1981
    General Practice of Law – including areas of civil, criminal, and probate law
  • Krause, Klein, & Associates, Cleveland, Ohio, Law Clerk, 1979 -1981
  • Cleveland Bar Association, Cleveland, Ohio,  Petition Circulator, Summer, 1979
  • Westview Swim Club, Columbus, Ohio, Manager and Water Safety Instructor, Summer, 1976, 1977, and 1978.  Lifeguard, Summer, 1974
  • National Women’s Political Caucus, Washington D.C., Intern, Spring, 1977
  • Ohio Supreme Court Law Library, Columbus, Ohio, Intern,  Summer, 1975
  • Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Assignment Commissioner’s Office, Columbus, Ohio, Intern, May 1974

ATTORNEY PUBLICATIONS

  • “Civil Rules and Trial Practice” Book Chapter, Family Law Practice in Ohio, (Law Practice Handbook, Inc. 1996) 
  • Numerous articles for various state and local bar association publications, including:
    • Ohio Lawyer, Ohio State Bar Association
    • Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association
    • Toledo Women’s Bar Association Newsletter, Toledo Bar Association
    • Law & Fact, Cuyahoga County Bar Association
    • “Borrower Beware:  Lesson Learned from Groob v. KeyBank,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 26, No.3, June 2006
    • “A Major Change for Minors’ UM/UIM Claims – Sarmiento v. Grange Mutual Casualty Co. and Ohio’s Tolling Statute,”  Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 26, No. 1, February 2006
    • “New Professional Conduct Rules Rolled Out by the Supreme Court,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 25, No. 5, December 2005
    • “Private Judges:  Efficient ADR or Creation of a Two-tiered System of Justice System?” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 25, No. 4, October 2005
    • “Proposed Fifty Hour Pro Bono Rule Passed by OSBA Council of Delegates,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 25, No. 2, June 2005
    • “Looking Ahead to 2014: Charting the Course of the Justice System and the Legal Profession for the Next Ten Years,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 24, No. 4, December 2004
    • “Workers’ Compensation and the Unauthorized Practice of Law – Setting the Record Straight,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 24, No. 3, June 2004
    • “Off-shoring  Comes to the Legal Profession,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 24, No. 2, April 2004
    • “Taking Back Our Profession,” Ipso Jure, Geauga County Bar Association, Vol. 24, No.1, February 2004 

ATTORNEY LECTURES

  • Ethics and Professionalism
  • The Civil Rules
  • The Rules of Evidence
  • Trial Practice for Women Lawyers
  • Nursing Home Negligence
  • Living Wills and Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care
  • The Unauthorized Practice of Law
  • Judicial Selection

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

SUPREME COURT OF OHIO APPOINTMENTS

  • Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Rules of Practice and Procedure, 2009-2011 – Chair, Appellate Rules Subcommittee, 2011
  • Supreme Court of Ohio Task Force to Review the Ohio Disciplinary System, 2009-2011
  • Supreme Court of Ohio Professionalism Commission, 2008
  • Supreme Court of Ohio CLE Commission, 2005-2008
  • Supreme Court of Ohio Committee on Technology – Member of Subcommittee on Privacy and Technology, Appellate Work Group, 2002-2005
  • Supreme Court of Ohio Rules Advisory Committee – Member of Appellate Rules Subcommittee, 1997-2000
  • Supreme Court of Ohio Records Management Task Force, 1995-1997
  • Supreme Court of Ohio Unauthorized Practice of Law Task Force, 1990-1994
  • Supreme Court of Ohio Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, 1986-1989

SUPREME COURT OF OHIO JUDICIAL COLLEGE

  • Appelate Judges Curriculum Planning Committee, 2011-present

NATIONAL POSITIONS AND ACTIVITIES

  • American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
  • ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, National Brief Judge, 2009
  • American Bar Association House of Delegates, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Delegate,  2008-present
  • American Bar Association House of Delegates, Ohio State Bar Association Delegate,  2002-2008
  • National Conference of Bar Presidents, Membership Committee, Member,  2001-2006
  • American Bar Association, Member, 1981-present 

OHIO JUDICIAL CONFERENCE

  • Ohio Jury Instructions, Board of Editors, 2008 - present
  • Civil Law and Procedure Committee, Member, 2007 - present
  • Ohio Court of Appeals Judges’ Association, Member,  2007 - present
  • Civil Law and Procedure Committee, Attorney Liaison Representative, 1995-1997 

STATE POSITIONS AND ACTIVITIES

  • Ohio State Bar Association, President,  2001-2002
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Board of Governors,  2000-2003; 1995-1998
  • Ohio State Bar Association Special Committee to Review Gender Fairness Task Force Report, 2008 -2011
  • Ohio State Bar Association Judicial Administration and Legal Reform Committee, Chair,  1993-1995; 2007-2009; Member, 1988- present
  • Ohio State Bar Association Council of Delegates, Member, 1986-2011
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Women in the Profession, Board of Governors, 1999-2008
  • Ohio State Bar Association Foundation, Life Fellow and Trustee,  1999-2002
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Advertising Task Force and Tort Reform Special Committee
  • House Counsel Task Force, Chair, 2002
  • Ohio Printing Company, Director,  2000-2003
  • Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company, Director
  • Ohio State Bar Association Diversity and Profession Steering Committee, Chair, 2000-2001
  • Ohio CLE Institute, Trustee, 1995-1998; Treasurer, 1997-1998; Chair, 1999

LOCAL AND SPECIALITY BAR ASSOCIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Mentor,  2004-present
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Judge for National Moot Court and Introduction for First Year Students,  2008-present
  • Cleveland State University School of Law, Mentor, 2004-2007
  • Geauga County Bar Association Law Day Committee, Chair, 2012
  • Geauga County Bar Association Community Service and Public Relations Committee, Member,  2004-present; Chair, 2006
  • Geauga County Bar Association, Ipso Jure Committee, Member and Contributing Author, 2004-present
  • Portage County Bar Association Legal Services Committee, 2011-present
  • Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District, Life Member
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Unauthorized Practice of Law, Prosecutor, 2000
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Nominating Committee, Member, 2009 & 2010
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Trustee, 1995-1998
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member, 1981- present
  • Cuyahoga County Bar Association, Trustee,  1986-1993; 1998-2008
  • Cuyahoga County Bar Association, Treasurer, 1993-1994
  • Cuyahoga County Bar Association, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, Chair, 1986-1987
  • Cuyahoga County Bar Association, CLE Committee, Past Chair
  • Cuyahoga County Bar Association, Judicial Selection Committee (Later known as JCRC), Past Member
  • Cuyahoga County Bar Association Character and Fitness Committee, Past Member
  • Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court, Guardian ad Litem
  • Ohio Women’s Bar Association, Member
  • Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Past Member 

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND OFFICES

  • Lake County United Way Women’s Initiative, Charter Member, 2007-present
  • Chagrin Valley Women’s Club, Member, 2007-present
  • Russell Civic Club and Friends of Russell, Past Member
  • Geauga County Agricultural Society, Member, 2003-present
  • Geauga County Democratic Party, Past Precinct Committeewoman
  • Columbus School for Girls, National Alumnae Council and Past President
  • Columbus School for Girls Board of Trustees, Past Member
  • Mount Holyoke College Alumnae Association Program Committee, Member
  • St. Anselm Church Summer Festival, Volunteer

AWARDS

  • Southeast Ohio Food Bank Community Service Award, Led OSBA Effort, and raised over $25,000, 2001
  • Ohio Association of Court Reporters, Legislative Award
  • Ohio Women’s Bar Association, Founder’s Award, 2009
  • Lake County Democratic Women’s Club, Woman of the Year,  2009
  • Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation,  Presidential Award for Pro Bono Service, 2011
  • 2011 Henry Toll Fellow, Council of State Governments
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Nettie Cronise Lutes Award, 2012

Top-of-Page