Court reform won’t occur without change in attitude

Mahoning County residents ex- pecting a firm commitment from government officials that the archaic court system below the common pleas level will soon be a thing of the past must settle for a pledge from Atty. Robert Rusu, president of the county bar association, that the issue will not die on the political vine.

Indeed, Rusu told a meeting on consolidation hosted by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor of the Ohio Supreme Court that the association is in the process of appointing a committee to chart the course for the creation of a new county wide system to replace the nine courts below common pleas.

It was the bar association that got the consolidation ball rolling when it hired the National Center for State Courts to study the feasibility of replacing the municipal courts in Youngstown, Campbell and Struthers, the county-wide court and mayor’s courts in Canfield, Craig Breach, Lowellville, New Middletown and Poland with one entity. In the numerous editorials we’ve written on this subject, which was first raised three decades ago by the late county Democratic Party Chairman Don L. Hanni Jr., a leading criminal defense lawyer, we’ve talked about a metropolitan court. The bar association committee, using the feasibility study as its guide, would determine the path of least resistance for accomplishing what has thus far proved impossible. There are too many special interests determined to maintain the status quo, which is why a non-governmental organization’s involvement is essential.

The meeting Monday in Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University hosted by Chief Justice O’Connor was attended by the three full-time judges of the Youngstown Municipal Court, the part-time judges in Campbell and Struthers and the four part-time judges in the county court, along with the three county commissioners, members of Youngstown city council, other public officials and the chairmen of the Democratic and Republican parties, David Betras and Mark Munroe.

It was Betras who invited the chief justice to host the session. She was accompanied by Steven Hollon, the Supreme Court’s administrative director, and Stephanie Hess, manager of case management programs.

And while there was no blockbuster news — O’Connor made it clear she would not dictate to the local courts, nor would she order consolidation — facts about the system in Mahoning County certainly supports our use of the word archaic. Here are a few nuggets of information that should prompt private sector taxpayers to rise up in irritation:

Mahoning County is among only six of Ohio’s 88 counties that have a county court and more than one municipal court.

It is one of only two counties that have a county court system and at least one municipal court in which, among the municipal court judgeships, there are both part-time and full-time seats.

Full benefits

And, the kicker: No other county in Ohio has four county court judges. Incidentally, each part-timer earns about $60,000 a year and receives full benefits — all paid for by the taxpayers.

This, while the population being served by the courts below the common pleas level has declined, as has the overall caseload.

In other words, the system is being perpetuated by those who are benefitting from it financially.

It’s time for Mahoning County to “do the right thing,” as Ingo Keilitz, principal court research consultant with the National Center for State Courts, told the attendees at Monday’s meeting.

The right thing is the consolidation of the courts.

We strongly support the decision of the bar association to move forward, and urge the inclusion of business and community leaders and representatives of grass-roots organizations, such as the League of Women Voters, in the committee being formed.