Lawyer chosen as next judge

Franken must run for election next year to keep the
judgeship.

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Timothy E. Franken is a well-qualified judicial candidate who will enjoy the advantages of incumbency and name recognition when he runs next year to keep the common pleas judgeship, says a prominent political leader.

“Tim brings a vast wealth of knowledge about the courts,” said Lisa Antonini, Mahoning County Democratic chairwoman.

Gov. Ted Strickland appointed Franken, 59, to the judgeship Friday. He replaces retired Judge Maureen A. Cronin.

Franken, a Democrat and a lifelong Mahoning Valley resident, ran for 7th District Court of Appeals judge in 1996 and 2006 and for common pleas judge in 2002. Even though he wasn’t successful in those attempts, Antonini said Franken has obtained name recognition from those races that will help him in next year’s election.

“He has the experience of running a campaign, understands what he needs to do to run a good, solid campaign, and will do so next year,” said Antonini, who is also county treasurer.

He’ll also benefit next year from a massive mobilization of the Democratic vote for next year’s presidential election, she observed.

Franken’s appointment is effective Oct. 1, and he’ll have to run for election next year to the remainder of Judge Cronin’s six-year term, which began Jan. 1, 2007. Franken said he expects to be sworn in Sept. 29 in the county courthouse rotunda.

Prosecutor’s office

Franken, of Beaver Township, currently chief trial lawyer in the criminal division of the county prosecutor’s office, brings to the bench 28 years of legal experience.

“Tim brings years of legal expertise to the bench, along with the integrity and dedication to public service that will make him an effective and fair judge,” the governor said.

“I’m very honored that the governor selected me,” Franken said. His goal as a judge is “to give the people of Mahoning County fair and impartial justice and to efficiently process the cases that come through that court.”

“I’ve been a trial lawyer for a long time, so I know how things work. That equips me to be able to handle these cases in a fair and efficient manner,” Franken added.

“He will bring a lot of experience and knowledge,” to the bench, said James Gentile, a Youngstown defense attorney who has practiced law for 31 years. “I think he’ll be a good judge.”

Franken was chosen from among three finalists submitted to the governor by a judicial appointments recommendation panel. The other two were Robert Bush, chief of the criminal division in the county prosecutor’s office, and Magistrate Tim Welsh of county common pleas court.

Judge Charles J. Bannon, a retired visiting judge, has been handling Judge Cronin’s cases since her July 1 retirement.

Franken’s reputation as a tough prosecutor was illustrated Aug. 20, when he successfully urged Judge James C. Evans to send Craig Franklin Jr., 19, to prison for 105 years after a jury convicted Franklin of shooting at seven pursuing police officers July 1, 2005, on Youngstown’s East Side.

milliken@vindy.com