YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The effort to establish a veterans court in Youngstown is moving forward and could be operating by the end of the year.

Judge Robert Milich is spear heading the effort to create a specialized court docket to assist veterans who enter the criminal justice system.

A spokesperson for VA services in Cleveland is impressed by the local effort.

"And I think if Youngstown is successful and, I have every reason to believe they will be, it really could be a model for the rest of the state," says Patricia Hall with Veterans Administration.

A representative of the Ohio Supreme Court briefed the local group on what is needed to have a specialized docket for veterans approved by the state.