Talk of adding sixth judge in Mahoning is premature

How does the caseload of the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court general division compare with other courts of similar size? Is the growing backlog of civil cases the result of poor case management, too much work for the five judges, a combination of both, or something else?
How would Mahoning County pay for a sixth judge?
These are some of the questions that came to mind as we read The Vindicator story last week headlined, "Judges consider asking for help." But before the common pleas judges even think of making a bid for a sixth judge, or adding a magistrate or two for that matter, they have an obligation to the taxpayers of the county to seek an independent study of the court.
Indeed, since it would be the Ohio Supreme Court that would have to recommend the creation of an additional judgeship, there is merit is asking Chief Justice Thomas Moyer to appoint a panel to conduct the review.
Objectivity
An independent analysis is necessary for obvious reasons. First, objectivity would be guaranteed. Court officials contend a record 4,118 civil cases were filed in common pleas court in 2002, an increase of 650 over 2001. But whether this situation is exclusive to Mahoning County or whether other courts are also being flooded with cases due to the faltering economy can be answered only through a comparative study.
Second, there is the issue of the operation of the general division. Judge Jack Durkin says he and his colleagues, R. Scott Krichbaum, Maureen Cronin, Robert Lisotto and James Evans, are doing their best to keep pace but have reached the point of diminishing results.
However, county Administrator Gary Kubic believes a study is necessary to determine if the judges are making the best use of technology and scheduling.
The questions we have posed and our call for an independent review by the Supreme Court should not be viewed as a repudiation of the criminal justice system, as it exists today, in Mahoning County.
While the budget crunch has prompted at least two judges, Timothy Maloney of the Probate Court and Theresa Dellick of the Juvenile Court, to threaten lawsuits if they do not receive the level of funding from the county commissioners they deem necessary, all the judges have shown a willingness to cooperate.
Indeed, the caseload issue couldn't have surfaced at a better time. Given the budgetary constraints, a solution may well be found that does not require the creation of a sixth judgeship or the hiring of additional magistrates. The goal should be to fix the problem on the cheap. The county's general fund just doesn't have the money for additional personnel.