Youngstown judge criticizes court security

YOUNGSTOWN — A Youngstown Municipal Court judge criticized the city administration and city council for problems with court security that extends beyond what she calls “the brawl in city hall.”

Elizabeth A. Kobly, the court’s administrative and presiding judge, sent a letter today to the mayor and council. In it, Judge Kobly wrote there were three other “security breaches during the last seven days.”

She said the problems would have been avoided if the city had a “properly trained, properly staffed security force.”

The July 14 brawl occurred in the court’s hallway after the arraignment of a murder suspect.

Less than a minute after the fight between family members of the suspect and the murder victim, about six Youngstown police officers responded to the brawl and broke it up.

Properly trained security officers “would know to separate the victim’s family from the defendant’s on any criminal case, especially a high-profile one,” the judge wrote.

For the complete story, see Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com