YOUNGSTOWN County plans once more to relocate court of appeals

The appellate court could move to the nearby county administration building.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County's on-again, off-again plans to relocate the 7th District Court of Appeals are on again.
County commissioners are looking into a plan to pull the court off the fourth floor of the county courthouse and move it to the fourth floor of the adjacent county administration building.
The appellate court has long complained to commissioners that it's out of space and badly needs room to expand. Commissioners hoped to seal a deal with Youngstown officials to put the court in the former city hall annex at Market and Front streets, but that fell through.
Pressing need: Commissioners have been remodeling the administration building, formerly the county jail on West Boardman Street, into office space. They planned to use the fourth floor for storage, but county Administrator Gary Kubic said the court of appeals' need for space is more pressing.
"Relocating them to the administration building looks like a very practical way to solve their needs," Kubic said.
Appellate judges have said they don't want to move to a building that will result in a substantial increase of the $56,000 a year the court pays now for its space. That cost is shared by the eight counties in the appellate district.
Kubic said the administration building would be a low-cost move that would not impose a hardship on the counties, which include Mahoning and Columbiana.
Robert Budinsky, appellate court administrator, said it doesn't matter where the court goes, just so the space is affordable and adequate for the court to do its work.
If the appellate court moves to the administration building, it would help solve space problems within the courthouse, said Judge Jack Durkin of common pleas court. The prosecutor's office, which occupies about half the third floor, is also set to move into the administration building next month.
"That is going to open up a lot of options," Judge Durkin said. Judges and commissioners talked about the possible moves during a meeting Monday morning.
Judge James C. Evans, who currently occupies a small courtroom on the third floor, needs a larger facility, Judge Durkin said. Judges have long complained that the courtroom is inadequate, especially during large trials.
If the court of appeals moves out, its courtroom could be outfitted with equipment to accommodate disabled people, Kubic and Judge Durkin said. One judge, probably Judge Evans, would be assigned to the courtroom, but it would be available for use by any judge who needs the special equipment.
bjackson@vindy.com