Login | May 02, 2025
Former Appellate Judge David D’Apolito discusses new position
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: May 9, 2024
He spent his entire career in the legal profession now former 7th District Court of Appeals Judge David D’Apolito has begun a new chapter in his life as Canfield city manager.
D’Apolito, who stepped down from the bench effective Dec. 31, 2023, started the position at the beginning of 2024.
He took over for Canfield Police Chief Charles Colucci, who had been serving in the role on an interim basis while the council searched for a permanent replacement for former city manager Wade Calhoun, who resigned in August 2022.
As city manager D’Apolito is charged with implementing municipal policy, overseeing the day-to-day operations of all departments and staff and acting as a liaison between the residents and the government.
“It’s great to take on a new challenge that is quite different than what I have done in the past,” said D’Apolito. “It’s especially exciting to utilize my existing legal skills and try to reinvent myself at this stage of my career.”
D’Apolito’s cousin, retired Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Lou A. D’Apolito said the citizens of Canfield will benefit from his years of legal experience and his ability to bring people together and solve problems.
“David is honest and hardworking,” said Lou, a deputy law director for the city of Youngstown. “He listens. He knows how to get things done.
“He has a strong background in administration,” said Lou. “He is a team builder. I know he will make decisions that are in the best interest of the people he serves.”
D’Apolito had been on the court of appeals bench since Feb. 2019. When he announced his resignation, he still had more than a year remaining on his term, which ends Feb. 8, 2025.
Columbiana County Municipal Court Judge Katelyn Dickey was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill the vacancy.
She is also seeking a full term on the bench and is running unopposed in the November election after winning the Republican primary.
“I think Katie is perfect for the court of appeals,” said D’Apolito. “She has the right demeanor and she enjoys the technical aspects of the law.”
D’Apolito, a Democrat, who previously served as a county court judge for more than 15 years, said he had decided not to seek re-election, citing “the politically contentious atmosphere” that he said is now an integral part of running for judicial office.
“When I ran for the court of appeals in 2018, the general election was non-partisan and judges were not allowed to discuss political issues,” said D’Apolito. “Now judicial races are more about politics rather than the qualifications and experience of the judge running for the position.
“I had always thought judges were different and rose above the politics but that is not true anymore,” he said. “So when I was given the opportunity to work for the city of Canfield I did not want to pass it up.
“While I enjoyed my time on the court of appeals, there was little interaction with the public and I am very happy to be working with people again.”
Raised in Boardman Township, D’Apolito’s older cousin Lou D’Apolito played a key role in his decision to go into the law.
“When I was growing up my cousin Lou would tell me stories about his cases and that’s what intrigued me to go into the legal field,” said D’Apolito.
When he started his undergraduate studies at Youngstown State University, D’Apolito was already planning on going to law school so he double majored in political science and economics.
After earning his juris doctor from The University of Akron School of Law in 1989, he started his own practice, sharing office space with Lou D’Apolito.
He continued to keep the office open until he took the court of appeals bench.
From 1994 – 2000, D’Apolito also served as the prosecutor for the Mayor’s Court in the village of New Middletown and in 1997 he was an assistant county prosecutor for the Ashtabula County Prosecutor’s Office.
It was in October 1997 that D’Apolito made history after being appointed as the first county court magistrate.
He continued as a magistrate until he was elected as a county court judge in Austintown in 2000.
“I loved my time in Austintown,” said D’Apolito. “The county court is the people’s court and that’s where most people will experience their only court appearance. I wanted to ensure that the court served them well.”
When he started as an appeals court judge, he said it required a bit of an adjustment.
“Instead of hearing testimony and having people come before me, I was reading everything,” said D’Apolito. “I like to say that serving in the county court is like going to the movies, while the appeals court is like reading the book.
“I enjoyed the legal issues and working with my staff and my fellow judges, but the pace was a little slow for me since I was used to the daily grind,” said D’Apolito. “Also I missed the contact with the public.”
With David D’Apolito moving to the government sector, his younger cousin Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony D’Apolito is now the only D’Apolito who continues to serve on the bench.
Judge Anthony D’Apolito said it was both “sad and strange” when he learned that his cousin had decided to step down from the bench.
“For the longest time I was one of three D’Apolito judges and now I’m the only one,” said Judge Anthony D’Apolito.
“I do think David will be a great city manager. He can adapt to anything that the job requires. He’s smart, he listens and he’s a quick learner.
“I really appreciate the mentorship that David provided to me at various stages in my career,” said Judge Anthony D’Apolito.
“While my father Lou was of course my mentor, David was closer to my age. When I was a new attorney, he took me to the municipal court and showed me how to be a lawyer. He was always there to answer my questions.
“Then when I was elected judge, he did the same thing for me. I look to do that for our two younger cousins, attorneys Mark D’Apolito and Joe Messuri.”
A longtime member of the Mahoning County and Ohio State bar associations, D’Apolito said now that he’s no longer on the court of appeals bench, he does expect to restart his law practice.
“As city manager I am permitted to practice and I will likely do so on a limited basis,” said D’Apolito. “My main focus, however, will remain on serving the residents of the city of Canfield.
“I learn something new on the job every day,” said D’Apolito. “I’m really enjoying it and the people I work with.
“I don’t know what the future holds, but it’s possible I will run for one of the judgeships opening up in the next couple of years.”