26 applicants seek position

The number of civil lawsuits filed this year is already near 1,500.
& lt;a href=mailto:bjackson@vindy.com & gt;By BOB JACKSON & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Twenty-six people have applied to become a magistrate for Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Judges say they will start interviewing candidates next month. They hope to hire someone by early summer.
"The sooner we hire someone, the better for all," said Judge Jack Durkin. "Without a doubt, we need to hire someone as soon as possible."
Judge Durkin serves as administrative judge for the five general division judges.
The court has two magistrates who primarily handle civil matters and cases that do not require a jury trial. Judges say the growing number of civil cases has created the need for a third magistrate.
The new magistrate will primarily handle civil matters and hopefully help judges get a handle on that docket. The magistrate's rulings are subject to review by a judge, who can either affirm, amend or reverse them.
Judge James C. Evans said applications came from both inside and outside Mahoning County.
"I might add that there are some very qualified people," he said.
The number of civil cases has grown from 3,001 in 1998 to 4,688 last year. More than 1,445 have been filed already this year, the clerk of courts office reports.
The number of criminal indictments also has risen by more than 300 over the same period.
"Things aren't getting any better," Judge Evans said. "We've got to get some help."
Judge Durkin said the list will be narrowed soon to those applicants whom the judges feel are most qualified. Interviews will be scheduled beginning May 10.
Judges have said the main problem with the civil docket is that, by law, criminal matters take precedence over civil matters when it comes to trials.
The civil caseload is so badly logjammed that judges already are scheduling cases for trial through 2005 and into early 2006.
Judges are hoping that the additional magistrate will be able to help resolve some of those cases without a trial.
& lt;a href=mailto:bjackson@vindy.com & gt;bjackson@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;