Domestic relations court will have evening hours

The after-hours court would help people during tough economic times.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County will try an after-hours domestic relations court on a trial basis.
Coleen Hall Dailey, the magistrate for common pleas court Judge David Tobin, came up with the idea.
"The purpose of the program is to allow greater access to the courts for working people," Dailey said. "Many times people lose time from work to attend a short, uncontested divorce or dissolution hearing."
Dailey noted that many large area manufacturers are cutting back. And in tough economic times, some people can't afford to take the time off, she said.
"We hope to increase access to the courts for these life-changing hearings," Dailey added.
What it's called
The pilot program will be called Evening Domestic Relations Court. Hearings will start at 4 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month beginning this month. No hearing will be scheduled after 8 p.m.
The trial program will run for four months and may be extended if there is enough interest.
The night sessions will be the actual divorce or dissolution hearing. No contested issues will be heard.
Dailey explained that dissolutions are ironed out before the paperwork is filed with the court. Uncontested divorces are close to that, but splitting couples may ask a judge to rule on some items.
Dailey said sale of a house in one case helped spark the idea of the night court. After a ruling, the parties in the case agreed to meet at the courthouse at 4 p.m. to take care of the paperwork.
The courts generally hear cases between 9 a.m. and noon and between 1 and 4 p.m. Dailey said that people who showed up for a divorce or dissolution hearing sometimes wound up waiting while another case dragged on, or had to come back again, thus costing them more time and money.
Additional fee
People asking to end their marriages will have to specifically ask for the night sessions. Each case will be assessed an additional $25 to pay for the extra court security.
Judge Tobin indicated he agreed with Dailey's idea. Judge Tobin had 158 divorce and dissolution cases last year.
Judge C. Ashley Pike, the county's other judge, is interested in the concept, Hall added.
Lawyers who do a great deal of divorce work were approached about the plan. Dailey said the lawyers weren't sure if their clients would take advantage of the idea, but were willing to give it a try.
In recent years, more attorneys from other counties are handling cases in the county. Dailey said that lawyers with more cases and travel time may find the night sessions will help their schedules, too.
wilkinson@vindy.com