Judge Durkin: Reflection, Prayer, Walks, Backgammon

Judge John M. Durkin of the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court is hanging tough. You can learn more about the court at the county website.

What are some ways the COVID-19 outbreak has changed your work life?

Since the courts are an essential service, courts did not close on March 9, but we drastically changed our operations to comply with guidelines from health professionals.

We have suspended all jury trials; we are conducting essential hearings by video from the jail or prison; we are conducting many hearings by phone; and have conducted many meetings via Zoom.

What about your personal life?

We are, by our very nature, social creatures, and we thrive on contact and interaction with our family and friends. This outbreak has impacted our ability to interact as we need to. This is especially difficult if we have a loved one or close friend who is elderly, or whose health is compromised, as we must intentionally avoid physical contact with those who are closest to us.

What steps are you taking to hang tough?

This has given me an opportunity to “unplug” from our routine.  My wife, Gina, and I have taken this time to reflect on our many blessings, to pray together at least once a day, to get outside and walk, and to get some needed yard work done. We’ve also relearned backgammon, and I wish I hadn’t suggested that!

What advice are you sharing with the people you love?

As we have witnessed incredible acts of courage and love during this difficult time, it’s important to remember that at some point this will pass, but we should never forget the many lessons that we have learned and witnessed along this journey. It’s also important to remind people to reach out to those people in our lives that we might have taken for granted in the past, to let them know that we are thinking of them, and that they are incredibly important to us.