Hagan holds off on introducing bill to eliminate Youngstown judgeship

YOUNGSTOWN — State Rep. Robert F. Hagan will postpone introducing a bill to eliminate a Youngstown Municipal Court judicial seat at the request of a majority of city council members.

Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, agreed to first have a public meeting on the issue before taking legislative action. But he said having the discussion “won’t make any difference” as a replacement for the retired Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. won’t be named.

Hagan said he told council members he would only consider a delay if a majority of council members asked for it.

Hagan said he received a letter Friday urging the bill postponement signed by council members Annie Gillam, D-1st; T.J. Rodgers, D-2nd; Nate Pinkard, D-3rd; Janet Tarpley, D-6th; and council President Jamael Tito Brown.

Also in favor of the postponement is Clerk of Courts Sarah Brown-Clark and ex-council members Rufus Hudson, the current president of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District board of directors, and Artis Gillam.

The current and former council members say the decision to eliminate the Youngstown judicial seat should be part of a study of Mahoning County’s entire lower-court system.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com