Mahoning attorneys propose consolidating county courts to 2

YOUNGSTOWN

Except for the geographically remote Sebring Court, Mahoning County’s lower courts should be consolidated into one or two locations, the county bar association says.

The association also says all of the county’s judges should be full-time to improve access to justice and eliminate the appearance of conflict between part-timers’ judicial activities and private law practices.

All of Mahoning County’s lower courts, except the one in Youngstown, have part-time judges.

Full-time judges don’t have private law practices.

The association’s preferred reorganization plan consists of an eastern division located in downtown Youngstown, and a western division located in or near Canfield, the lawyers’ group announced late Thursday after five years of studying court consolidation here.

Read more about the proposal in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.