Judge Sweeney restricts oral hearings in her court

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Due to Mahoning County’s budget constraints, a common pleas court judge has ordered that oral hearings will no longer be scheduled on motions in criminal cases in her court unless requested in writing or required by law.

Judge Maureen A. Sweeney issued the new policy, which applies only in her courtroom, Friday after county Prosecutor Paul J. Gains announced his employees would be taking a 15-percent pay cut in the form of 11‚Ñ2 days of unpaid time off every two weeks.

Judge Sweeney declined to comment on her order, which took effect immediately and would apply to hearings on motions to suppress evidence.

But a spokeswoman for her court said the new policy is designed to avoid having prosecuting and defense lawyers and law-enforcement officers wait unnecessarily in the courthouse for hearings that may be postponed or canceled.