2019_junga | Woodward HOF

Christopher T. Junga Inducted 2019 - Class of 1992

Hailing from what was considered the "Front of the Point," Chris's buddies Dave Majewski, Jeremy Schroeder enjoyed their days at Ottawa River school exploring Cullen Park and the shore line of Lake Erie's Maumee Bay.

With Woodward High School beckoning, Chris' days of playing golf at Detwiler with his buddies would be limited to the occasional weekend as teachers Mrs. Szelagowski and Mr. McMurray demanded more of his free time. There was always the memories of lunch in the Chemistry Lab, but Mr. Hoffman's Speech and Drama classes were having a profound impact on Chris. Chris considered Mr. Hoffman not only a very good teacher, but a mentor and friend. It was the time spent in Mr. Hoffman's class that developed the skills which Chris considered essential in his chosen profession. One of the high points of his Woodward experience was being selected to attend Ohio's Buckeye Boy's State. Chris has always maintained that the involvement and skills obtained at Boy's State helped to shape his legal profession.

Chris's entrance into the legal profession was enhanced and refined by his 12 years as a staff attorney for Franklin County's Public Defender's Office. As a young attorney, Chris quickly learned how to budget his time between the high-volume case load and formal court proceedings. Using the Public Defender's Office for his on the job training, Chris would volunteer as a judge for the Ohio State Moot Court Competition and as a speaker for International Law Day.

Chis Junga is currently serving as the Director of the Ross County Office of the Ohio Public Defender. As a criminal defense attorney for the past 18 years, Chris is the head public defender for Ross County, Ohio. His office oversees the cadre of state licensed attorneys who provide the constitutionally required legal representation to indigent individuals charged with felonies, misdemeanors, as well as juveniles involved in the criminal system.

In his prior positions at the Franklin County Public Defender's Office and in his private practice of law, Chris has been the lead counsel in over 50 high profile trials. In 2010, Chris was a candidate for the Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge, and was endorsed by the Columbus Dispatch, the Central Ohio Association for Justice, and the Ohio Coalition of Concerned Black Citizens. Chris graduated with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1999 from the University of Toledo, College of Law, after receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, from, the University of Toledo. Chris currently lives in Dublin, Ohio with his wife, Mindy, and their two children.