Mahoning commissioners appoint outside counsel in Oakhill case

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County commissioners have appointed an outside prosecutor to represent a visiting judge in an action at the Ohio Supreme Court.

The commissioners today approved a resolution to appoint the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office in Dayton to represent Judge William H. Wolff Jr., the judge hearing the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal conspiracy case, in an amount not to exceed $10,000.

The Vindicator and 21WFMJ-TV have asked the high court to issue a writ of prohibition that would bar Judge Wolff from sealing documents or closing proceedings in the Oakhill case.

Linette Stratford, chief of the civil division in the Mahoning County prosecutor’s office, told the commissioners her office has a conflict and can’t represent Judge Wolff because she and county Prosecutor Paul J. Gains are witnesses in the Oakhill criminal case. Therefore, she said outside counsel must be used.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com