Famed criminal lawyer, former Dem chairman Don L. Hanni Jr. dies

YOUNGSTOWN — Atty. Don L. Hanni Jr., a former Youngstown judge, prominent criminal lawyer, and longtime Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman, died Wednesday morning. He was 82.

Arrangements are being handled by Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman. Hanni had been in ill health in recent months.

“Don Hanni and I were close friends; we used to have lunch together on Fridays and have a drink or two, and we battled, too. We were great political adversaries at one point,” said Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

“He was probably as good a trial lawyer as this area ever produced ... and was absolutely brilliant in cross-examination. He could pretty much take any case and give the defendant the best defense available.

“We respected each other as trial lawyers. As a judge, I have ruled in his favor, though he would probably never admit that, and also ruled against him many times.

“It causes me a great deal of sorrow that I’ve lost him as a friend and as a colleague. I offer my sincere condolences to his family. It is a tremendous loss to them and to the community,” the judge added.