Supreme Court rules for Judge Kobly

COLUMBUS — Youngstown Municipal Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly can conduct contempt of court proceedings against the Mahoning County sheriff for not following her order concerning a county jail inmate who was released

early, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled.

In a 6-1 ruling today, the high court reversed a 7th District

Appeals Court decision that prevented Kobly from conducting the proceedings against Sheriff Randall Wellington.

In an unsigned majority opinion, the high court held that Wellington wasn't entitled to a court order preventing the judge from initiating contempt proceedings because the judge has state authority to enforce her sentencing orders.

According to court documents, in November 2005 Kobly convicted Ronald Tomlin on misdemeanor domestic violence charges. Kobly sentenced Tomlin to seven days in the county justice center.

Kobly specified in her sentencing entry, "Sheriff

not to release early."

Court records say Wellington released Tomlin on the same day he was sentenced, following the county's approved prisoner release policy.

Kobly then ordered Wellington to appear before her and demonstrate why he should not be held in contempt in connection with the do-not-release order.

Wellington filed court papers seeking to disqualify Kobly from holding the contempt proceeding, which was denied by the common pleas court's presiding judge.

According to court documents, Wellington then sought a court order in the 7th District Appeals Court to prevent Kobly from conducting the December 2005 contempt hearing.

The court of appeals approved the court order and Kobly appealed to the high court.