Youngstown judges seek action on new city courthouse
YOUNGSTOWN — The municipal judges, tired of hearing “we feel your pain” from city officials who contend there’s no money for a new courthouse, are hiring a lawyer to force the issue.
In a recent judgment entry, Judges Robert A. Douglas Jr., Robert P. Milich and Elizabeth A. Kobly ordered the Board of Control (mayor, law director and finance director) to set aside $25,000 to pay Boardman attorney John B. Juhasz to represent them. Juhasz will receive $150 per hour plus expenses.
The entry directs city council to appropriate the money and notes that more money may be needed depending on the “nature, length and complexity of any litigation.” The judges said an outside lawyer is needed because, in the event of a lawsuit, the city law director will represent the other branches of city government.
Judge Douglas, the courts’ presiding/administrative judge, said the goal is to force the city to provide the courts with “reasonable accommodations.” If legal action is required to do that, he said it would likely be filed with the Ohio Supreme Court, which has established standards for courthouses.
“Every court around here is 100 percent better than this,” Judge Douglas said. “The city should be embarrassed.”
The judges said their quarters in the 69-year-old police building on Boardman Street — which doesn’t even have a “municipal courts” sign outside — are too small, unsafe, unhealthy (odors, respiratory problems) and lack a public restroom. Many years ago, the public restroom was converted to a private restroom for the secretary assigned to Courtroom No. 1.
“We’ve said the city may have to write a check for a fatality some day. We’re exposed 24/7,” Judge Douglas said. “The court design should separate the public and staff and prisoners. There’s no way you can do that here.”
He said talk of a new courthouse has dragged on for almost 10 years and “we’ve been patient to a fault and now have to do something.”
Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.