Judge Mark Frost is retiring after 31 years on the Municipal Court bench. (Photo by Deanne Johnson)

LISBON — For those attending hearings in front of Judge Mark Frost, sometimes you never quite knew what he was going to say. Frost, who retires after 31-years on the Municipal Court bench said he always tried to put those coming into his courtroom at ease.

He also hopes he has been able to help people. Frost said he has received some letters through the years from people who have appeared in the court before him and he has some satisfaction in knowing maybe he has changed a life or two.

“Sometimes you have to be tough on people, sometimes you have to give them hard sentences and sometimes it is appropriate,” Frost said. “You need to punish bad behavior, but I’ve always tried to treat people with respect even when I’m imposing penalties. I’ve found that’s a much better way to keep decorum in the courtroom. People actually listen to me a little more if I treat them with respect.”

He said he patterned his courtroom demeanor after former Common Pleas Court Judge C. Ashley Pike in the way he treated people in the courtroom.

“You’re given a whole lot of power as a judge and you have to exercise it very carefully, because if you have a bad day you can mess up somebody’s day just because you are in a bad mood.”

After graduating from law school at The Ohio State University, Frost at first considered an appointment he was offered with the U.S. Consulate Service, which would have meant a life traveling and in diplomatic service. But the Salem High School graduate instead decided to return to practice law in Columbiana County.

He spent some time with a private practice and some time in the prosecutor’s office, when it was led by former Judge David Tobin.

Frost said when before he was a judge, he learned some of his ability as a lawyer from practicing in front of Judge J. Warren Bettis, who practiced the “eyebrow method.” When Bettis raised his eyebrows, Frost said you knew it was time to object.

Frost was first elected as a judge in the Eastern Area Municipal Court in 1988, receiving the second most votes to the former Judge Bob Roberts, in a four person race for two seats.

Both serving as Municipal Court judges in 2005, Frost and Roberts were the two judges that opened the new County Municipal Court building, something Frost said is one of the things he is most proud of. The judges planned the building and created a special projects fund so that a portion of court costs could go toward the new building.

“This wasn’t paid for by the tax payers,” Frost said, “but by the people who use the court.”

The building came in under budget and on time. There was a roof issue, but it was later fixed with money from a lawsuit filed against those who had not built it correctly.

Throughout his years in office, Frost said he has always been lucky to work with some fine people from both sides of the political aisle. He points out after the election season ends, people in the county offices usually work together and the Municipal Court Judges have never had to sue the commissioner for the money needed to keep the courthouses afloat.

Frost could not run for re-election for his current position after reaching the age of 70. While he points out his age would not keep him from running for President of the United States or the from being a Federal Court Judge, a life-time appointment, he has come to terms with the Ohio age requirement for judges.

He had considered running for another office, but in the end decided retiring from public office was the right decision for him and his family right now. He and his wife, Sharon, just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, which Frost called “a testament of her tolerance and forgiveness.”

Additionally, Frost said he is lucky enough to have both of his daughters, Allison and Amanda, living completely independently with their families and with good jobs, but still living in Columbiana nearby him, when many people see their children move away.

He is considering starting a limited law practice again or serving as a judge for special cases. After serving as a judge all these years, Frost said he believes his time on the bench also will serve to make him an even better trial attorney, because he knows what he expected from the attorneys practicing in his courtroom all these years.

Besides spending time with family and possibly getting back into practice, Frost plans to continue pursuing some of his hobbies — traveling, “skiing well, golfing badly” and the theater. He is directing a drama called “Doubt,” which is opening on Valentine’s Day with a great cast. He also has some plans to serve in other roles in Columbiana.

Although he has mixed feelings about leaving, Frost said he has left the court in great hands. He will be replaced by Judge-elect Kaitlyn Dickey, who he said will do a fabulous job because she is earnest, intelligent, a hard worker and wants to do good. She will also be working with Judge Tim McNicol, who Frost said is a “star” in his opinion.

While he and Assistant County Prosecutor Don Humphrey Jr. have known each other for a long time and are friends, Frost said he has always tried to not treat anyone who came in front of him the same — whether they came from the public defenders office, other attorneys or the prosecutor’s office.

“We’ve had a comfortable familiarity develop over the years,” Frost said of Humphreys, noting they Humphrey go back to their days working in the county prosecutor’s office, then later when Humphrey was in the public defenders office.

Additionally, Frost said the staff at the County Municipal Court has always been a wonderful group of people to work with and he has had an easy collegial relationship with the other judges he has worked with.

“There is no one who left here that I was glad to see go, unless they were going to something better, which some of them were.” Frost said.

Now starting a new chapter, Frost said he sees some thing being different after 31 years wearing a robe and ruling on cases.

“I’m about to learn what people really think about me,” Frost quipped.