Rare public airing of judicial discord in Warren

WARREN — The image of a reserved and collegial 11th District Court of Appeals has been shattered by a dispute touched off by the selection of the administrative and presiding judge.

On Tuesday, two of the court’s five judges issued a dissenting opinion on the selection of Judge Mary Jane Trapp to the two positions for 2009.

Voting for Judge Trapp to have the positions were Judges Cynthia Wescott Rice, Timothy P. Cannon and the judge herself.

The 11th District Court of Appeals reviews the decisions rendered in common pleas and lower courts in Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Portage and Trumbull counties.

The dissenting opinion written by Judge Diane V. Grendell says Judge Trapp, while serving as administrative judge in 2008, promoted an “extreme ‘them versus us’ attitude among judges and staff” by “not allowing judges to ask questions of the administrative staff (even for the most simple information), without labeling a fellow judge as being disruptive.”

The judgment entry says Judge Trapp regularly disregards input from experienced staff and judges, refuses to acknowledge error, lacks basic management skills and abuses power at the expense of employees.

Judge Colleen O’Toole agreed with Judge Grendell’s opinion.

For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com