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Sandusky County to merge two courts
July 13, 2012
Ohio: In a cost-cutting measure, Sandusky County will consolidate two courts into one, effective in January 2014. House Bill 509 was passed and signed into law late last month. The bill combines the Sandusky County Courts located in Clyde and Woodville into one municipal court. Currently, two part-time judges serve on these courts. In 2014, the municipal court will instead have one full-time judge.[1]
Before the consolidation can occur, questions about the legality of extending judges' terms must be considered. Since county court judges are elected in even-numbered years, but municipal court judges run for re-election in odd-numbered years, Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor said that both judges currently serving should have terms extended by one extra year.[1]
There is opposition to this compromise by some local officials. An attorney for them said, "It's totally up to the electorate to decide who their elected officials are. You can't have the legislators pick who the judges are; that's just ripe for abuse.'[1] Of course, the legislative election of judges is the method of selection in both South Carolina and Virginia.
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