Login | July 21, 2026
Longtime Ninth District Court of Appeals Judge Donna Carr looks back on her career
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: July 17, 2026
During her decades-long tenure on the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals, Judge Donna Carr reviewed and authored thousands of cases and opinions, led the court as both presiding and administrative judge, and played a pivotal role in starting the Courtroom in the Classroom program to give students an up-close look at the justice system.
But on May 31, she officially called it a career after serving as a judge for 31 years--including almost 28 years on the appeals court bench--and working in the Summit County Prosecutor's Office.
“I decided that after 43 years in the justice system, I was ready to retire,” said Carr, whose term ends on Feb. 9, 2029. “When I ran for re-election in 2022, one of my three sons was married, and I did not have any grandchildren.
“Now all three are married and I have three grandchildren, so life has gotten very busy for me,” said Carr. “I felt it was time to reassess things.
“I am a person of faith, and I know that God has new adventures planned for me,” said Carr. “I am looking forward to spending more time with my grandkids and exploring new ways to give back to the community.”
On June 16, a retirement party was held for Carr at the Akron Bar Association, with colleagues and others gathering to wish her well.
Among them her longtime friend and colleague retired Ninth District Court of Appeals Judge Lynne Callahan.
“It was great to see the turnout at the party,” Callahan said. “I know Donna was really thankful that so many people took the time to attend.
“We met in the prosecutor’s office in 1989 and served on both the Akron Municipal and Ninth District benches together,” said Callahan. “We are also neighbors and walking buddies.
“Donna is very thoughtful and has always been guided by a desire for justice,” said Callahan. “She believes everyone should be treated equally.
“I know she will find new ways to give back to the community,” said Callahan.
“Being retired myself I understand that it’s a bit of an adjustment and a learning curve,” said Callahan.
“I have asked Donna to find at least one way for us to volunteer together.”
Ninth District Court of Appeals Judge Jennifer Hensal, who took over Carr’s term as presiding judge for 2026, was also in attendance.
“Judge Carr was on the bench when I started in 2013,” said Judge Hensal. “We’ve worked together since then.
“Over the last 13 years, we’ve developed a friendship,” said Judge Hensal. “I am happy for her but sad to see her go.
“She had a lot of experience and was extremely knowledgeable,” said Judge Hensal.
“We will miss her, but I’m sure she won’t go too far away, as I know she’ll continue to serve in any way she can.”
U.S. District Court Judge John Adams, who serves in the Northern District of Ohio, described Carr as a “wonderful person,” who is “committed to her faith, family and the legal profession.”
While the two have not served on the bench together, they worked together at the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office in the late 1980s.
“She has a reputation as a kind and fair judge,” said Judge Adams, who also attended the party. “During the gathering at the Akron Bar Association, there was a huge outpouring of affection for her.
“I’m sure that she will continue to devote time to causes that are close to her heart, including her faith.”
Former Akron Bar Association President Larry Poulos was unable to attend the party, but paid tribute to Carr’s service in a prerecorded video message.
“I met Judge Carr in the mid-80s in the prosecutor’s office,” said Poulos, of counsel at Barry M. Ward Co. and Rischitelli & Poulos. “Having seen firsthand her knowledge and ability with regard to the law I knew she would become a respected and trusted lawyer and judge.
“She is a credit to the judiciary,” said Poulos.
Born in Elkins, West Virginia, Carr moved to Ohio when she was six.
Carr said she knew she wanted to be a lawyer from the time she was a little girl.
She told the Akron Legal News earlier this year that she had a “keen sense of justice” even as a child, adding that it drove her crazy whenever she felt that people weren’t being treated fairly.
At Kent State University, Carr majored in political science and psychology, earning her Juris Doctor from The University of Akron School of Law in 1984.
In law school, she was a certified legal intern in the appellate division of the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, which allowed her to argue appeals before the Ninth District.
She said it was then that she first developed a passion for appellate work.
After law school, she was hired as an assistant Summit County prosecutor in the civil division, where she served until becoming chief counsel of the division in 1993.
She continued in the role until January 1995 when she was appointed interim Summit County prosecutor.
That same year, she was appointed and then elected as a judge on the Akron Municipal Court.
In 1998, Carr was appointed to the Ninth District Court of Appeals bench.
She was elected later that year, and went on to be re-elected four times, most recently in 2022.
She was the court’s presiding judge in 2004, 2008 and 2016, and started another term at the beginning of this year. She was also the administrative judge in 2011, 2015 and 2020.
Carr has served as a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court ten times.
She also sat on the Ohio Supreme Court Racial Fairness Implementation Task Force’s interpreter services subcommittee and was later appointed to the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Interpreter Services, chairing the committee and working on the Interpreter Bench Book and Bench Card for judges.
In addition, Carr has served on the Ohio Supreme Court Commission for the Rules of Superintendence and the Ohio Judicial Conference Education Committee.
Over the years, Carr has mentored many newly elected appellate court judges.
As a Ninth District Court of Appeals judge, she said she’s very proud of the role she played in launching the Courtroom in the Classroom program, which allows students to hear oral arguments and interact with the judges.
Carr arranged the first school visit in the early 2000s, which eventually led to the creation of the program.
Since its unveiling, judges have held oral arguments at high schools and colleges in the Ninth District on more than 60 occasions.
Carr is a member of the Akron Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, Medina County Bar Association, Lorain County Bar Association and Wayne County Bar Association.
She is also a member of the Ohio Courts of Appeals Judges Association, where she served as secretary/treasurer in 2015, chief judge-elect in 2016 and chief judge in 2017.
Carr has been a member of Montrose Zion United Methodist Church for over 30 years.
She continues to volunteer with Love Akron, which presented her with the Judge Brenda Burnham Unruh Servant Leader Award in 2021.
She’s also participated in many other faith-based programs and activities over the years.
“I feel blessed to have served in the justice system for so many years,” said Carr. “It’s been an incredibly humbling experience and I’m really grateful to have been able to make a positive impact on the legal profession and the community.
“I really loved my job, and it was a very difficult decision to retire, but my heart is open to whatever comes next.”