Media outlet sues Mahoning County Clerk of Courts for delaying access to civil cases
A national news media outlet is suing the Mahoning County Clerk of Courts for what they claim are unconstitutional practices.
Courthouse News Service is claiming that Mahoning County Clerk of Courts Michael Ciccone is violating the first and 14th amendment by routinely delaying access to civil cases after they are filed, in order to shield them from public view.
In the lawsuit, Courthouse News Service claims that when civil cases are withheld from the public, it hinders the public's ability to become aware of the case.
The suit also attacked Ciccone's no-access-before-processing policy, which bars the public from viewing cases until they are reviewed and processed by the Clerk's staff.
Courthouse News Service claims that this no-access-before-processing policy is unnecessary, and goes against nearly all other federal and state courts, who provide same day access to new civil e-filings.
The lawsuit claims that they sent Ciccone a letter in September of 2024, requesting access to newly filed civil complaints, but that their request was denied.
21 News reached out to Mahoning County Clerk of Courts Michael Ciccone for comment, but have not heard back.
