Mahoning County Probate Court judge sues county for more money

YOUNGSTOWN — With the year’s midpoint fast approaching, Judge Mark Belinky of Mahoning County Probate Court wants the appellate court to force the county commissioners to quickly give him the $915,715 budget he demanded for this year.

“I was concerned that time was of the essence. We are already into June,” Judge Belinky said today. “We need a resolution of this quickly.”

The judge noted that almost three months have passed since he issued a judgment entry March 6 ordering that his court receive that sum from the county’s general fund. Judge Belinky filed his complaint in mandamus Tuesday with the 7th District Court of Appeals. The complaint asks the appellate judges for an expedited review of the case.

The 25-page lawsuit was signed by John B. Juhasz, who is Judge Belinky’s county-funded lawyer. Attached to it is a seven-page affidavit signed by Judge Belinky, which explains his budget demand.

The commissioners allocated only $694,833 from the general fund to the probate court this year — a figure Judge Belinky said was insufficient to meet the court’s needs. The probate court spent $762,859 last year from the general fund, which is the county’s main operating fund.

For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com