The former President of a local watchdog group, says Mahoning County Judge Scott Krichbaum should excuse himself from hearing a lawsuit filed against the County.

Judge Krichbaum is scheduled to hear a suit filed by the Cafaro Corporation claiming the county didn't live up to terms of it's lease at the Garland Plaza.

Attorney James Callen wrote a letter to the county prosecutor claiming the Judge has a well-established connection with Anthony Cafaro.

Callen claims the judge accepted a free ride on the Cafaro Company jet in 1999 and that  Cafaro paid for Kirchbaum's re-election campaign brochures in 2002.

Judge Krichbaum is at a seminar in Columbus and could not be reached for comment.