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Ceremony dedicates justice center addition
Photo
Portraits were unveiled at the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center on East Scott Street in Youngstown. At left is the portrait of Judge Joyce. At far right is the portrait of Judge James McNally. Between the portraits are, from left, Betty Joyce, wife of the late Judge Joyce; Judge Theresa Dellick of juvenile court; Linda McNally, wife of the late Judge McNally; and Kerry McNally, the judgeÕs daughter, who recently graduated from law school. The portraits were unveiled at a ceremony Monday.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
YOUNGSTOWN
Two past judges of Mahoning County Juvenile Court were honored for their dedication to serving the county’s troubled youths.
Portraits of the late Judge Martin P. Joyce, for whom the juvenile-justice center on Scott Street is named, and of the late Judge James M. McNally were unveiled in a Monday ceremony, at which Ohio Supreme Court Justice Maureen O’Connor was the keynote speaker.
In conjunction with the portrait unveiling was the dedication of a 3,000-square-foot expansion of the justice center.
“They had the innate ability to balance the law with common sense. They made tough decisions — always in the best interests of children in the community,” Linda McNally, widow of Judge McNally, said of the two judges, who served the county for a combined total of 32 years.
“They gave second chances, believing that there was good and potential in everyone. ...They protected abused children and made sure justice was served,” she said.
“They recognized the unique place that juvenile courts have in our community and what they can do for the future of our youth,” said Kerry McNally, the judge’s 25-year-old daughter, who has just completed law school and was only 5 in 1989, when her father was sworn in.
Judge Joyce’s widow, Betty, thanked the current juvenile court judge, Theresa Dellick, who took office in April 2001, for furthering Judge Joyce’s dreams for the juvenile justice center.
As for Judge McNally, she said: “The skies pouring rain down are only crying because of his early death.” She was alluding to a brief rain shower that morning and to Judge McNally’s untimely death at age 47.
“With both of their vision and insight, we are pledged to maintain that and to continue rehabilitating our youth,” Judge Dellick said of her predecessors.
Justice O’Connor said the $350,000 addition, which contains a new courtroom and 10 offices, is “a reflection of the work and the initiative of Judge Dellick” whose innovative programs “cannot happen in a closet” and require adequate space for employees and participating youth and their families.
The new addition includes offices for magistrates, a sports program, a teen court and an attorney-client consultation area.
“The courthouse must be accessible, efficient, convenient and safe,” said Justice O’Connor, who is running for Ohio chief justice. “Our courthouses are the most significant public buildings that we have here in America. The courthouse is the cornerstone of authority and the cornerstone of the community it serves.”