Limbian gets nod in strong race for common pleas judge

Limbian gets nod in strong race for common pleas judge

Four well-experienced lawyers with varying backgrounds in the law are seeking to fill out more than three years that remain on an unexpired term on the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas. Judge Maureen Cronin resigned from the bench.

The candidates in the Democratic primary are Timothy A. Franken, 59, who was appointed to the bench pending the election; Louis A. D’Apolito, 63; Louis M. DeFabio, 42, and J. Jeffrey Limbian, 48. All have been rated qualified by the Mahoning County Bar Association. No Republican has filled for the term, which expires Dec. 31, 2212.

Franken was in private practice from 1979 to 1997 and then was an assistant county prosecutor from 1997 until being appointed to the bench in October. D’Apolito has been in the general practice of law since 1973 and has also served as attorney for the Mahoning County MRDD Board since 1991. DeFabio has been a solo practitioner since 1992. Limbian has been a lawyer since 1988 and has served as an assistant county prosecutor, Youngstown city prosecutor and Youngstown law director before entering private practice.

We have seen judicial races in the past where some of the candidates had to strain their professional background to reach the six years of legal experience that is required of a judicial candidate. There is no such deficiency in this group.

Shared views

In their interviews with Vindicator editors, all discussed the need to address backlog problems that developed in the court before Franken’s appointment. They all described themselves as willing to work the hours that it takes to get the job done, and none engaged in a personal attack on any of the other candidates. Such civility is not uncommon in judicial races, though we prefer it when some sparks fly.

The two candidates who stood out at the end of the day were Franken and Limbian. Franken can rightfully point to the fact that he hit the ground running after Gov. Ted Strickland appointed him to the post and he has already held 10 jury trials. He has instituted Thursday meetings with prosecutors to assure that they are on track to bring cases to court the next week.

Limbian found no fault with Franken’s methodology, but impressed our editors in his discussion of the need for a judge to function as an administrator. He took time off to complete a masters degree program in litigation and dispute resolution in 2005 at George Washington University Law School.

He obviously takes a scholarly attitude toward the law, and that shows in his discussion of the law in general and the functions of a common pleas judge in particular. He also says he intends to serve no more than two terms as a judge because he would like to cap his legal career as a teacher.

While Franken has earned credit for the job he has done during his five-months on the bench, Limbian receives The Vindicator’s endorsement as the best candidate in a strong four-man field.