Columbiana County commissioners and county Republican Party Chairman David Johnson pose with retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence O’Donnell and his daughter, Judge Colleen O’Donnell, who’s considering a run for Ohio Supreme Court next year, during a visit to the courthouse in Lisbon Monday. Pictured from left are Commissioners Roy Paparodis and Tim Ginter, retired Justice Terrence O’Donnell, Commissioner Mike Halleck, Judge Colleen O’Donnell and David Johnson, who also serves as chairman of the Ohio Republican Party Judicial Screening Committee. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

LISBON — A father-daughter judicial duo, one a retired justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and the other a possible candidate for Ohio Supreme Court next year, visited with Columbiana County officeholders and county Republicans Monday.

Retired Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence O’Donnell and possible Republican Ohio Supreme Court Justice candidate Colleen O’Donnell traveled to Lisbon together, with Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman David Johnson introducing them throughout the courthouse and during the GOP’s Roundtable luncheon at party headquarters.

Judge Colleen O’Donnell is one of a handful of possible GOP candidates for the Ohio Supreme Court in 2026 and if she files and is elected, she and her father could become the first father-daughter Ohio Supreme Court Justices ever, according to Johnson.

A graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Miami University in Ohio in 2003, she earned her Juris Doctor in 2006 from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, which is where she grew up. She served as judge of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court for 10 years from 2013 to 2023 and then served six to seven months as an Immigration Judge for Laredo Immigration Court in Laredo, Texas.

“I think she’s going to be a great justice,” her father said.

Justice Terrence O’Donnell retired in 2018 from the Ohio Supreme Court after nearly 16 years service from 2003 to 2018. Prior to that, he served as judge on the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals from 1995 to 2003 and as judge on the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court from 1982 to 1994. He currently teaches law at Florida Gulf Coast University and does some work for the Frantz Ward law firm in Cleveland.

He said his daughter has the right judicial temperament for the high court and she will be an asset for the people of Ohio and her colleagues. He said she’s got common sense.

“I’m committed to public service,” Judge Colleen O’Donnell said.

Having served as a common pleas judge and immigration judge, she said she truly understands the importance of the justice system for all Ohio individuals and businesses.

She and her husband, Joe Tonges, have two school-age children.

Johnson, who serves as chairman of the Ohio Republican Party Judicial Screening Committee, said he’s very impressed with Judge Colleen O’Donnell, but also said in fairness that other candidates for the Ohio Supreme Court are being looked at and introduced.

He noted her background with the immigration court and said it would be great to have that perspective on the Ohio Supreme Court.

mgreier@mojonews.com