Bar will honor judge, welcome 26 new lawyers
The group will present its second professionalism award.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Bar Association will recognize its past and future during its annual opening-of-court ceremony and luncheon Monday.
Judge Charles J. Bannon, who retired from the common pleas bench in 1998, will receive the bar association's professionalism award. He will be the second person to receive the honor, which recognizes lawyers who display integrity, civility toward others and respect for the courts. Nominees must have at least 30 years in the legal profession.
Atty. David C. Comstock Sr. of Youngstown was the first recipient of the award in 2003.
Atty. Clair Carlin, bar association president, said Judge Bannon was unanimously chosen by the bar's board of trustees to receive this year's award because of his willingness to return to work on a full-time basis when the county needed help on the bench.
The Ohio Supreme Court appointed Judge Bannon last year to fill in for Judge Robert Lisotto, who took an extended sick leave due to Alzheimer's disease. Judge Bannon continued working until Judge Maureen A. Sweeney was appointed by the high court last month to replace Judge Lisotto, who resigned.
Judge Bannon will be recognized during a luncheon Monday at Mt. Carmel Church.
Traditional ceremony
Also on Monday, the bar association will hold its annual opening-of-court ceremony at 11 a.m. in the domestic relations court on the fourth floor of the courthouse. Twenty-six lawyers will be accepted as new members of the bar during that ceremony.
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of common pleas court said opening of court is a traditional ceremony that dates back to years when common pleas courts did not hold jury trials during the summer months.
Every fall, a new pool of jurors was drawn for the year and a ceremony was held to mark the opening of the courts after the summer hiatus from jury trials.
One reason for not holding summer trials was a lack of air conditioning at the courthouse in those years.
Also, during years when steel mills thrived and the local economy was robust, it was difficult to find enough jurors during the summer because that's when people took vacations, the judge said.
The building has been air conditioned for several years now, and "people pretty much take vacations year round," he said. Plus, the court's caseload has grown to the point that it cannot afford to shut down jury trials for three months during the year.
Carlin said the courts and bar association still hold the annual opening-of-court ceremony in keeping with the tradition of the past.
Carlin said it's also a chance for the bar to acknowledge and welcome its new members.
bjackson@vindy.com