Mahoning Commissioners hire lawyer to defend them in Probate Court funding suit

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County commissioners hired a Cleveland lawyer today to defend them from a mandamus lawsuit filed against the panel by Judge Mark Belinky of probate court in a dispute over his court’s budget.

In hiring Atty. Robert Glickman, the commissioners set a $10,000 cap on his fees, which is the same as the cap they set when they hired Atty. John B. Juhasz to represent Judge Belinky. Both lawyers were hired at taxpayer expense.

Judge Belinky sued the county commissioners in the 7th District Court of Appeals on June 2 in support of his demand for a $915,715 operating budget from the county’s general fund for 2009.

On March 31, the commissioners gave the probate court $694,833 from that fund for this year, which Judge Belinky said is insufficient to meet his court’s needs.

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