Lorain County Juvenile Court/Domestic Relations Magistrate Donna Freeman has announced she has filed a petition to serve as a Lorain County Common Pleas General Division Judge for the seat currently held by Judge John Miraldi, who is not seeking re-election.
The six-year term begins in January 2025.
Freeman began her career in the legal field when she became a mediator for the Lorain County Domestic Relations Court in the Family Court Services department.
In that position, she mediated custody and visitation issues with separating parents, as well as provided the Court with written reports and recommendations concerning these matters, according to the release.
While serving in that capacity full time, Freeman attended law school at the University of Akron earning her juris doctorate, the release said.
After obtaining her law degree, she served as an assistant county prosecutor in Ashland County in the civil, juvenile and children services divisions.
Freeman then returned to employment in Lorain County, where she became an assistant county prosecutor representing Lorain County Children Services for several years.
Her passion for helping others and making a difference in her community expanded when she began handling felony criminal matters, which included prosecuting criminals charged with murder, sex crimes, drug trafficking and violent crimes, the release said.
Freeman was employed as an assistant county prosecutor in the criminal division for almost eight years.
In 2019, Freeman began working in a judicial capacity when she became a magistrate for the Honorable Judge Frank Janik.
Since that time, she has presided over juvenile delinquency cases, domestic violence protection orders and private custody cases, the release said.
Freeman also remains active in the Lorain County Bar Association and currently serves on the ethics committee for that organization.
She values the integrity of the Court, which is one of the many reasons she is seeking this position, the release said.
“I have spent my entire close to 30-year career serving the public in a legal, prosecutorial or judicial capacity,” Freeman said in the release. “I believe my experience as a mediator, assistant prosecutor and a magistrate make me uniquely qualified for this seat.
“As a magistrate, I strive every day to treat families and individuals who come before me with respect and dignity, while always making public safety my priority. I would be honored to continue to serve the citizens of Lorain County as a judge of the Common Pleas Court.”
