COMMON PLEAS COURT Candidates: Let voters judge
The incumbent judge says the challenger can't match his qualifications for the bench.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The race for Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge has become a contest of qualifications vs. character.
Incumbent Judge R. Scott Krichbaum is seeking election to a third term on the bench where he's presided since February 1991. Atty. James B. Callen is trying to unseat him.
Callen has not addressed Judge Krichbaum's performance on the bench, but he has attacked his character, accusing the judge of being familiar with former organized crime figures -- something the judge flatly denies.
Callen said he's never seen any evidence that Judge Krichbaum's rulings on the bench were swayed by the alleged relationship.
"But that doesn't matter," he said. "He showed poor judgment."
Old allegations
Judge Krichbaum said those are old allegations that were investigated by the FBI and the Ohio Supreme Court and found to be without merit.
He said Callen is resorting to a negative campaign to hide the fact that he's not qualified for the bench.
"He has absolutely no qualifications whatsoever," Judge Krichbaum said. "He wants the issue to be something that only he imagines. His only avenue to the bench is to unjustifiably ruin my reputation."
The judge said Callen can't match his vast legal and judicial background, which covers 27 years as a bailiff, trial lawyer and judge.
Efficient docket
Judge Krichbaum said a survey of the county's five common pleas judges shows that he has by far the most efficient docket. He said he has participated in dozens of felony criminal cases as a lawyer and "scores" of civil and criminal cases as a judge, while Callen has no such experience.
Especially important is his experience with death-penalty murder cases, he said. "How can you sit and decide whether someone lives or dies when you have never had any role in a capital case in any way, shape or form?" Judge Krichbaum said.
Callen admits that his criminal courtroom experience is lacking, but said, "I don't think that's a deficiency that can't be made up."
Civil matters
As head of Northeast Ohio Legal Services, the bulk of his work has been civil matters for low-income people. He also has appellate experience.
"A judgeship demands more than technical skills," Callen said. "It must be built on a solid foundation of integrity, intelligence, good judgment and appropriate temperament."
Judge Krichbaum said those are the very qualities that were cited by the Mahoning County Bar Association when it deemed him worth of re-election.
"The only issue here is who would be the best judge," Judge Krichbaum said. "I have earned the respect of lawyers, judges, jurors and those who appear before me because I always render firm, fair, impartial, efficient justice."
bjackson@vindy.com