Judges like new setting

By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The judges of the 7th District Court of Appeals say the new courtroom, where they heard oral arguments for the first time Tuesday, offers a more intimate setting and better acoustics to hear legal arguments than the old courtroom in the Mahoning County Courthouse.
"We feel honored to sit on this very historic occasion for the first session of oral arguments for the court of appeals," in its second home in 94 years, said Judge Gene Donofrio, presiding judge of the four-judge court, which hears oral arguments on cases from lower courts.
"The old courtroom was just beautiful as far as the grandeur and the workmanship and the history behind it, but the new courtroom suits our needs very, very well," Judge Donofrio said.
The appeals judges don't need a large courtroom, and the new courtroom has excellent acoustics and greatly improved lighting, he said. "We don't hear the echoing of a big courtroom. Because of the smaller courtroom, even the people in the gallery, I think, can hear more sharply and more clearly."
The appellate judges heard oral arguments for the first time in the courtroom of their new quarters at 131 W. Federal St. in a mix of civil and criminal cases. The new courtroom is poplar and birch paneled with cherry wood tables and benches.
Cases
Of the five cases they heard, four originated from Mahoning County and one from Columbiana County. Each case was allotted 30 minutes, with the lawyer for each side arguing for 15 minutes, and the judges interrupting occasionally with questions.
On May 13, the appellate court moved from the county courthouse, where it outgrew the quarters it had occupied since it was founded in 1912. The court had a dedication ceremony for its new digs June 16.
"I miss the old courtroom. It's historically been ours, but this is a great space, and a lovely courtroom, and it is certainly nice to have work space for all of our employees," said Judge Cheryl L. Waite. "I'm just happy that we have finally settled into a place that allows us to be productive and still be dignified."
Judge Mary DeGenaro said, "It's kind of a bittersweet time for us. That [former courtroom] was our historic home. This courtroom was designed specifically for a court of appeals, and therefore it's much easier to engage in that dialogue" with the attorneys.
"The sound is better for one thing," compared to the large, high-ceiling former appellate courtroom, said Judge Joseph J. Vukovich. He said he also likes the new, lower bench, which puts him almost at eye level with lawyers arguing before the panel and much closer to them.
"It's a more intimate atmosphere," he observed. "You don't have the intimidation factor, I think, that you might have had in the old courtroom," he said. The new courtroom is "informal to a point, but not so informal that you lose any dignity of the bench," he added.
Improvements
The smaller courtroom has better acoustics and brings lawyers arguing appeals closer to the judges, said Atty. Robert Budinsky, court administrator. Security also is improved, with cameras monitoring the new courtroom, he added.
"The reduced size gives you the ability to be closer to the court and to interact with the judges a little bit more," said Atty. Marshall Wolf, who appeared before the judges in a case that originated in Mahoning County Domestic Relations Court.
"The old room was so large and the ceilings so high that there was a distance, whereas this one is much more intimate, and you have the ability to have eye contact with the judges and the ability to really argue your case directly to them, so it's comfortable," Atty. Wolf added.
One of the improvements, Budinsky said, is that, in the new building, the court's staff attorneys can hear arguments from the courtroom live over their office telephone intercom systems without having to sit in the courtroom.
Judge Donofrio said he thinks a microphone needs to be installed on the lectern from which the lawyers deliver their arguments so they can better be heard on the intercom system.
In addition to Mahoning and Columbiana, the appellate court also serves Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe and Noble counties.