---
title: "Deanna O'Donnell | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/deanna-o-donnell"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Deanna O'Donnell

Parma Municipal Court · Municipal Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Parma Municipal Court
- State: Ohio
- Role: Municipal Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing exhibits

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance tells courts to include instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses when remote-hearing information is sent to participants.

Evidence excerpt: Instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing ground rules

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance recommends advance ground rules for documents, exhibits, screen sharing, and pre-marking exhibits for remote hearings.

Evidence excerpt: Documents: Share any documents/exhibits that will be reviewed in advance. Use the share screen function while documents are being discussed during the hearing. Request that the documents are pre-marked for exhibit purposes.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote recording

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance states that litigants, attorneys, and the public should be instructed not to record the hearing.

Evidence excerpt: The court should instruct the litigants, attorneys, and the public to not record the hearing.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Official roster](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Ohio Judicial Conference Directory official judicial roster](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Elected to the Parma Municipal Court Bench in November 2007 and currently serves as the Administrative/Presiding Judge
- In September 2025, an emergency complaint was filed against Judge O'Donnell in the Ohio Supreme Court by Stephen Johnson, seeking a writ of prohibition or mandamus to halt a trial in Parma Municipal Court
- In 2007, she became the Chief Assistant Law Director for Parma, marking the first time a woman held this position

### Education


### Additional information

- She also held the role of a Magistrate in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division from 2000 to 2007
- She then held the role of an Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Parma and was appointed to develop and lead the Parma Juvenile Diversion Program from 1998 to 2007.
- Judge Deanna O'Donnell was admitted to the practice of law in 1993 and began her career as an Associate at the law firm Burke, Vannucci and Gallagher, where she worked until 2000.
- Seasoned legal professional with over three decades of experience in law, prosecution, and judicial service.
- She has a legal practice background in family law, domestic relations, and litigation, among other areas
- Her judicial responsibilities include overseeing municipal court proceedings, managing court administration, and ensuring compliance with Ohio law.
- The complaint alleged that Judge O'Donnell had not ruled on certain pre-trial motions and that procedural issues prevented disqualification, raising claims of constitutional violations under the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, as well as the Ohio Constitution.