MAHONING COUNTY Health problems delay judge's return

Judge Lisotto has been off work since December.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Health problems will keep Judge Robert G. Lisotto of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court off the bench for at least two more months.
Judge Lisotto of Canfield is experiencing problems with elevated blood pressure, said his judicial colleagues.
The judge has been off the job since December. He sent a letter a couple of weeks ago to court officials saying he would not be returning until at least the end of March.
Judge Lisotto, 57, declined to comment Thursday on his future as a judge or his medical problems.
Judge Jack Durkin, the court's administrative judge, and Judge R. Scott Krichbaum say they hope Judge Lisotto will return.
"There's been a lot of rumors and discussions about it," Judge Krichbaum said. "I hope he's fine and will come back. There are rumors out there, and there are legitimate and public concerns, but I won't comment on rumors."
"I hope he's well," Judge Durkin added. "Health's got to come first."
Filling in
In Judge Lisotto's absence, the Ohio Supreme Court appointed retired Judge Charles J. Bannon to replace him on a visiting basis. Judge Bannon retired from the common pleas court in 1998.
Judge Bannon had been handling asbestos cases in Mahoning and Trumbull counties in recent months before this latest assignment.
"Those asbestos cases have been brought to a stop while he fills in for Judge Lisotto," said Judge James C. Evans of common pleas court.
Judge Lisotto was first elected to the common pleas bench in 1996 and re-elected in 2002. Before that, he spent six years as a county court judge. He is a former assistant county prosecutor and assistant state attorney general who got his law license in 1973.
skolnick@vindy.com