Mary Jane Trapp, Esteemed Ohio Jurist, Dies Unexpectedly
Mary Jane Trapp, a respected figure in Ohio’s legal community and former judge on the Eleventh District Court of Appeals, passed away unexpectedly April 25 of what appears to be natural causes, according to law enforcement officials.
Mary Jane Trapp, a respected figure in Ohio’s legal community and former judge on the Eleventh District Court of Appeals, passed away unexpectedly April 25 of what appears to be natural causes, according to law enforcement officials.
Her sudden death elicited an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and community members who admired her dedication to justice and public service.
“Words cannot express the sudden and devastating loss of my best friend, Mary Jane Trapp,” said Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica. “She was the smartest woman I know, but balanced that with kindness, compassion and generosity. I’m stunned. The void created on so many levels will be felt for years to come amongst her friends, colleagues and the community. She will forever be missed.”
Trapp, 68, served as a judge on the appellate court from 2007 to 2013 and again from 2019 to 2025, and was past president of the Ohio State Bar Association. She also served on nine Supreme Court of Ohio commissions, committees and task forces, and received “Highly Recommended” ratings from all bar associations in the Eleventh Appellate District, according to previous reporting.
Most recently, Trapp ran for a seat on the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas in the November 2024 general election, which she lost to candidate Matt Rambo.
“I miss the courtroom,” she said during a campaign fundraiser in July 2024, expressing her passion for the legal process and desire to bring her extensive experience back to the trial court level.
“I have over 30 years’ experience as trial and appellate advocate focused on complex civil, criminal and domestic relations litigation, including service as a guardian ad litem for children in the parents’ divorces,” Trapp said on her election questionnaire. “I have tried over 45 major jury trials and well over 150 bench trials and numerous arbitrations and over 60 district and Ohio Supreme Court appeals. I have practiced before state and federal administrative agencies and local boards of zoning appeals. I have served as a mediator and arbitrator, and I am a published author and judicial educator.”
Judge John Eklund, a former colleague of Trapp’s on the appellate court, said he was deeply saddened by the shocking news of her death.
“For over 40 years she has been a paragon of service to clients in need, the legal community and our state,” Eklund said. “Her record of service, her accomplishments and the accolades bestowed on her are well documented. But I think her legacy is not so much what she did, but how she did it. She had a first-rate legal mind and never let a negative emotion interfere with its application. She was thoughtful, kind and upbeat in all her endeavors. She was slow to anger, free with praise and gentle with advice.”
He added, “I was a beneficiary of her mentoring when I transitioned from the Ohio Senate to the court of appeals and I know how well she played that role for countless other Ohio lawyers. In everything she did, she displayed a sense of decency, integrity and responsibility. Her death is a great loss to me, our community and our state.”
The Ohio Democratic Women’s Caucus expressed sadness at Trapp’s passing and highlighted her contributions to the judiciary, as well as her role as a trailblazer for women in law.
Trapp’s philosophy on her role as a judge included taking a fair, open and balanced approach to resolving disputes and protecting people’s rights.
“The public wants judges who will follow the law and the constitution; impartial judges, not legislators in black robes and my record demonstrates my commitment to those ideals,” she said in her questionnaire. “Without fear or favor, I approach each case with an open mind dedicated to making the right decision rather than a decision predetermined by a personal or political agenda.”
Trapp previously expressed gratitude for her family, who taught her the value of hard work, dedication to life’s calling and perseverance.
“My teachers taught me the value of critical and independent thought and to recognize that we are citizens of a greater whole with an obligation to improve it with our words, our acts and our deeds, and to embrace learning as a life-long endeavor with real value,” Trapp added.
She also leaned on her church, which taught her the importance of faith, justice and charity, she previously said, adding the most influential people in her life taught her that her reach should always exceed her grasp.
When reflecting on areas that challenged her, Trapp said she often found it difficult to “turn off and relax.”
More recently, she enjoyed batch cooking as “a way to step away from work, eat healthy meals and explore my more joyful and creative side.”
As of this writing, specific details regarding funeral arrangements have not been publicly announced.
