Valley lawmaker wants to reduce the number of Youngstown judges - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A Valley lawmaker is expected to sponsor legislation to reduce the number of judges in Youngstown.

On Wednesday, August 1st Youngstown Municipal Judge Robert Douglass will be retiring. Douglas can't seek re-election due to age limits for judges in Ohio.

State Representative Bog Hagan says the retirement of Judge Douglas, along with the declining population and dwindling finances in the city of Youngstown, makes it the right time to look at reducing the number of judges in the city.

Hagan is sponsoring legislation that would do just that. "It will allow the elimination of one of the municipal judgeships in the city of Youngstown," Hagan said.

At one time, the city of Youngstown had over 170,000 residents, so there was a need for three municipal judges. But over the years, the population has dropped drastically to around 60,000 and the number of judges has stayed the same.

Ohio law calls for one judge for each 50-thousand residents. "At 60,000 people we have to understand our city is shrinking, our population is shrinking. We have to do everything we can to save taxpayers money," Hagan said.

The savings is estimated to be over $100,000 a year plus the cost of benefits.

Governor John Kasich has the ability to appoint a judge to fill the empty seat with a Republican, but Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, also a Republican who has statutory authority over all the state courts, has asked the governor not to appoint a successor to that seat.

Representative Hagan says once the legislation is drafted, hearings will be held in Columbus to consider case loads, and to give people for or against the elimination of that judicial seat an opportunity to testify.