MAHONING COUNTY Common pleas judges hire new magistrate

The new magistrate will be called upon to help whittle down the civil caseload.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Atty. Timothy G. Welsh is the newest magistrate in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Welsh, 43, was hired this week by common pleas court judges, for whom he'll begin working June 30. He was chosen from a field of 26 applicants.
Other finalists were Atty. Renee LaCivita, a private practice attorney from Youngstown, and Atty. Connie Pierce, who works as the county's human resources director.
"They were all excellent candidates," said Judge Jack Durkin, who said Welsh's extensive experience in civil litigation is what put him over the top. "We are very excited about the qualifications [Welsh] brings to the court."
His background
Welsh has been a lawyer for 18 years and is a senior associate with the firm Davis & amp; Young. He also served as bailiff for former common pleas Judge Peter C. Economus, who now is the judge at U.S. District Court in Youngstown.
Welsh is a former president of the county bar association and is active in several community and church organizations. His father, T. Gordon Welsh, is a former longtime common pleas court administrator.
"I'm very, very excited to have the opportunity to serve this court," Welsh said. "I can't wait to get started."
Judge Durkin said Welsh will be paid $66,000 a year, plus benefits. He will be the third magistrate on the common pleas staff, joining Eugene Fehr and Robert Bannon.
Their duties
Magistrates hear civil cases that don't involve a jury and also can preside over certain criminal proceedings, such as arraignments. The magistrates' rulings are subject to review by a judge, who can either affirm, amend or reverse them.
Judges have said continual growth in the number of civil cases filed each year has caused the need for the additional help.
The number of civil cases has grown from 3,001 in 1998 to 4,688 last year. More than 1,890 have been filed so far this year, the clerk of courts office said.
Judges have said they already are scheduling cases for trial into 2006 because the civil caseload is so jammed.
Welsh, who has been a civil attorney for nearly all his career, said he understands the process and the problems, and hopes to help the court get the caseload under control.
bjackson@vindy.com