Colleen T. O’Donnell

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I have served on the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, General Division since 2013.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
Judge Colleen O’Donnell was appointed to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, General Division in May, 2013, won her retention election to the Common Pleas Court in November 2014, and in 2016, ran unopposed for another full term in the Common Pleas Court. Since taking the bench, Judge O’Donnell has presided over all manner of civil and criminal cases, conducted numerous jury trials, and she works aggressively to resolve cases on her docket. Previously, Judge O’Donnell served as a law clerk to Judge Sara Lioi of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. She also served in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Section. Before joining the Court, Judge O’Donnell was in private practice with the law firm of Carpenter Lipps & Leland LLP, where she concentrated on litigation matters, including products liability and criminal defense. She also accepted court appointments to represent indigent defendants. Judge O’Donnell has experience practicing regulatory and administrative law before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and before the state legislature.

Judge O’Donnell is a graduate of Miami University and Case Western Reserve University School of Law. She is also a graduate of The Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute.

Judge O’Donnell is a member of the Columbus Bar Association; the Ohio Women’s Bar Association; Women Lawyers of Franklin County; the Ohio State Bar Association; and the Thomas J. Moyer American Inn of Court. She serves on the Boards of the Grandview Heights Public Library Foundation, and of Miami University’s Pre-Law Advisory Program. She and her family are proud members of The Shamrock Club!

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
Judge O’Donnell believes all litigants should be treated fairly and respectfully, and that they deserve timely resolution of their cases. She is keenly aware that the vast majority of cases heard by the Tenth District Court of Appeals will not garner further review, and thus understands the importance of the decisions reached by this Court.

Judge O’Donnell approaches every case with an open mind, and is guided by the facts and the law. In serving on the Tenth District Court of Appeals, she will continue to adhere to the rule of law, respect the separation of powers, and serve our community with distinction and integrity.