Judge won’t hear Newton Falls case

WARREN — A hearing planned for Wednesday morning is canceled after Judge Thomas A. Swift ruled he does not have jurisdiction to hear a complaint made by five Newton Falls citizens against two current council members.

Rick Schwartz, Newton Falls law director, appeared in Judge Swift’s courtroom at the Trumbull County Courthouse last week prepared to defend council members Thomas Moorehead and Catie Karl Moran in a complaint filed against them by Newton Falls resident Jim Luonuansuu and four other residents.

But the hearing was moved back a week so that Judge Swift could determine whether the matter properly belonged in his court.

After receiving written responses from attorneys, Judge Swift dismissed the matter late Friday and ordered costs to be paid by Luonuansuu and the other plaintiffs.

Atty. Jim Saker, an assistant prosecutor with the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office, advised Judge Swift last week that he believed the Newton Falls charter requires the Newton Falls City Council to consider the question of whether the two council members should be removed from council first.

Only if council would vote to remove a council member can the matter be appealed to Judge Swift, Atty. Saker said.