Girard seeking halt to court dispute

GIRARD — Attorneys representing Girard have asked the state Supreme Court to reject Judge Michael Bernard’s most recent request, and put an end to the ongoing funding dispute between the city and court.

Judge Bernard and city officials were in the 11th District Court of Appeals earlier this year, arguing before a magistrate over a funding order issued by the judge.

Judge Bernard said the city failed to properly fund his court. The court was appropriated $800,000, but requested slightly more than $871,000.

The dispute was eventually taken to the Ohio Supreme Court, which refused to hear the matter. Judge Bernard, however, recently asked the court to reconsider.

Judge Bernard’s most recent filing said:

• The city failed to properly fund the court from the beginning of the year.

• The court’s attempt at cooperation with the city has amounted to the court’s submission to funding that is less than appropriate for the court.

• Council did not take into account the needs of the court before issuing its appropriations.

• City officials are trying to get rid of the court.

The most recent filing by Atty. Frank Bodor on behalf of the city states that the judge’s latest filing should be rejected because it violates Supreme Court rules by re-arguing the entire case, because the court’s financial woes are related to the judge’s mismanagement, and because of inaccuracies in some of the judge’s financial claims.