Discussion of Mahoning County court system on hold

YOUNGSTOWN — A meeting to be convened by the Ohio Supreme Court’s chief justice to discuss the possible overhaul of Mahoning County’s lower-court system is on hold.

The reason: the unresolved legal dispute between Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and the city’s three municipal court judges over court facilities.

In a letter to Williams, Steven C. Hollon, the Supreme Court’s administrative director, wrote: “After careful consideration, Chief Justice [Thomas J.] Moyer has concluded that it would be inappropriate for him to move forward with facilitating a discussion among the various parties with a stake in the resources and facilities of the Youngstown Municipal Court when most of those parties are named in the mandamus action now pending at the Supreme Court of Ohio.”

The chief justice’s decision didn’t come as a surprise to Williams or Elizabeth A. Kobly, administrative and presiding judge of Youngstown Municipal Court. A July 28 mediation session lasted about 10 hours. A second mediation is expected to be held later this month or September.

The Youngstown judges filed a complaint May 13 with the Supreme Court to compel the city administration and council to provide the court with “suitable accommodations.” The justices on June 26 referred the issue to mediation.

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com