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Representatives from county prosecutor’s office discuss issues affecting black community
By SARAH Lehr
YOUNGSTOWN
Is it “Justice or Just Us?”
The title of a forum Monday evening on Mahoning County issues affecting the black community raised that question.
County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains and assistant prosecutors Carla Baldwin and Lori Shells served as panelists. The Buckeye Review, a black-owned weekly newspaper, sponsored the forum at Mount Gilead Baptist Church on Hillman Street as part of its recurring “Public Square” series.
Mike McNair, co-publisher of The Buckeye Review, asked Gains how many attorneys in the county prosecutor’s office are black. Gains estimated there were 34 attorneys and said two – the two who accompanied him to the forum – are black.
Gains’ position is elected. Baldwin and Shells are appointed by Gains.
“I think the ladies will tell you I don’t really see color when I hire,” Gains said. “I’ve never really seen race.”
McNair responded, “Since you mention that, I’ll just say the reason that we’re here is that we see race. ... If you happen to not be the dominant race, then race is real important.”
He later added, “I’m not saying you, personally. ... But, I have noticed that the law has a tinge of racism running through it that has a disparate impact on black folks.”
Clarence Boles, the newspaper’s managing editor, referred to the case of Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally, saying, “If he had been an African-African, I can’t help but wonder if the outcome would have been different.”
A Cuyahoga County judge sentenced McNally to a year’s probation after he pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor corruption charges this year. He originally was indicted on 72 charges. McNally’s sentence allows him to remain in office.
Gains declined to criticize the judge’s decision, but said, “When you go to the ballot box, think of their definition of public service and your definition of public service and then mark the appropriate box.”
Throughout the conversation, Gains, Baldwin and Shells emphasized the importance of separation of powers and detailed the structure of the criminal-justice system.
“We don’t seek a conviction,” said Shells, who works with Children’s Services. “We seek justice.”
Baldwin, who works with the juvenile division, stressed that juvenile courts can offer counseling and diversion programs to keep minors out of jail.
“Research shows that locking up kids is not effective,” she said. “We have people with holes in their souls that are walking around, and we are indicting people for holes in their souls.”
The debate also strayed to state and national-level politics. Gains, a Democrat, criticized Republican Gov. John Kasich for cutting funding to local agencies and referred to presidential candidate Donald Trump’s remarks concerning the ethnicity of a federal judge presiding over a lawsuit against Trump University. Trump said the judge’s “Mexican heritage” presents an “inherent conflict of interest.”
“Donald Trump’s insane,” Gains said. “For Mr. Trump, for all of his accomplishments, to sit down and criticize that judge because of his nationality ... is the essence of disrespect for our system. My understanding is that judge was almost immediately confirmed. ... We are a nation based on laws, and on top of our courthouse there’s a great saying: ‘Where the law ends, tyranny begins.’”