Trumbull commissioners back court consolidation

Staff report

WARREN

After two public hearings, the Trumbull County commissioners have given written support to the consolidation of the Eastern District Court in Brookfield and the Central District Court in Cortland.

The resolution commissioners OK’d Wednesday recommends that the Ohio Legislature take the final step to approve the consolidation, though Commissioner Frank Fuda says he’s still not sold on the idea.

Fuda said he still has concerns because he doesn’t believe Judge Tom Campbell, judge of the Central District Court, who would like to become judge of the merged courts, has proved what the savings will be.

At Tuesday night’s public hearing in Brookfield, Judge Campell told the audience he would like the court to be located in Cortland for the first year but that it would be good to find a more centrally located site afterward, Fuda said.

That means the commissioners would have to sell two buildings and secure another one, which he opposes, Fuda said.

Commissioner Paul Heltzel said the loss of service to some county residents will be sufficiently offset by the savings that will be realized by the consolidation.