April Grabman is currently working as a staff attorney for the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas. Prior to that, she was employed as a Magistrate for Judge David Schroeder. April was hired as a magistrate in March of 2021, where she worked until she voluntarily resigned on December 15, 2023, in order to run for the position of prosecuting attorney. April made the decision to step down from the position of magistrate because the rules that govern judges and magistrates prohibit them from running for non-judicial positions.
As a magistrate, she presided over the following matters assigned to Judge Schroeder’s courtroom: all felony arraignments, bond revocation hearings on felony criminal cases, all civil protection orders, and all non-jury civil matters. She heard all civil cases, including township zoning issues, up until the point of jury trial, and she was heavily involved with all jury trials in Judge Schroeder’s courtroom. While in this position, she heard and ruled upon thousands of cases, and wrote thousands of pages of legal documents, including orders and decisions.
Prior to entering college, April was a proud graduate from Pymatuning Valley High School, class of 2009. Following high school graduation, she attended Youngstown State University, where she graduated in 2012, with her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. During her time at Y.S.U., April volunteered for the Youngstown Municipal Court Veterans’ Treatment Court. The courtroom experience and the community connections she made solidified her desire to become an attorney. April then began law school at the University of Akron School of Law in the fall of 2012, and graduated in December of 2015.
After law school, April was hired as an associate attorney for a law firm in Youngstown, Ohio. She handled her own case load and clients, gaining experience in litigation, as well as acquiring experience in personal injury, criminal law, and domestic relations.
In 2017, April was offered an associate position in the French Law Firm in Ashtabula County. Although her career was excelling in Mahoning County, April felt compelled to return to her home county. Other than her law school years, April had resided in Ashtabula County her whole life and that is where she and her husband wanted to raise their family. April accepted the position at the French Law Firm and continued to handle cases in domestic relations, personal injury, and criminal defense. She also handled guardian ad litem matters, where she was the voice for several children.
In the fall of 2018, April was hired by then Prosecutor Nicholas Iarocci, where she was given the opportunity to advocate for several others, including law enforcement and countless victims. She was employed during the terms of Nicholas Iarocci, Cecelia Cooper, and Colleen O’Toole. As a prosecutor, April served alongside law enforcement, prosecuting numerous cases and helping to seek justice for a multitude of victims.
She and her husband Brett share the same passion for helping victims and seeking justice. Brett and April met when they were attending college studying Criminal Justice at Youngstown State University, and they just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Brett, like April, is also employed in the field of criminal justice.
When Brett and April are not at work, they spend their time with their three children, as well as volunteering for their kids’ various sports teams. April has coached children’s soccer, t-ball, and cheerleading through her volunteer work for the various youth sports organizations in her community. April believes that it is important to educate and invest in our youth, which is why she also participates in giving presentations to the various educational programs in Ashtabula County that tour the Courthouse Complex.
April Grabman is a wife, a mother, and a lawyer. Her family is everything to her and they are primarily the reason she is running for this position. April believes that in order to effectively raise her three children with love, good morals, and solid values, she must set the example of leadership and service. April is fortunate to say she is from a middle class, blue collar family. She is the middle child of seven siblings that were raised by two parents with a single income. The importance of working hard was instilled in April at a young age and her work ethic continues to serve her well now. While her work ethic is important, April’s parents also taught her how important God is and how being a faithful Christian will always guide her down the right path.
The county prosecutor has the responsibility for overseeing, and if the prosecutor chooses, actively participating in countless legal matters for the agencies and citizens of Ashtabula County. The importance of this position cannot be understated, and this position deserves someone with integrity, dedication, and commitment to Ashtabula County.
