STRUTHERS — Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller filed for a civil protection order against municipal court Judge Dominic Leone, stating she fears for her safety, her family and city hall employees.

Magistrate Dennis Sarisky on Thursday granted Miller’s request for a temporary order.

Miller and Leone, who share a working space inside Struthers City Hall, will have to keep their distance, the order states.

The judge is permitted inside the building only to access his office, the courtroom and the hallway to and from the parking lot.

The terms of the order will be effective until Nov. 4 unless the order is extended.

Miller declined to comment when contacted Thursday afternoon.

All calls to Leone were forwarded to his voicemail.

A full hearing will take place 9:30 a.m. May 18 in the Mahoning County Courthouse, at which time parties can produce witnesses and documents.

HER STATEMENT

The mayor also accuses the judge of using derogatory and threatening language, some of which is outlined in court documents filed with the Mahoning County Clerk of Courts.

She wrote a handwritten statement that notes encounters where Leone has made Miller feel unsafe or caused her distress.

Her statement describes the judge as “mentally unstable” and “getting more erratic” before further detailing specific instances where the two have clashed.

A particular encounter Miller noted occurred earlier this week, while she was at a polling location in the days leading up to the primary election. In that Democrat primary election, Leone lost the contested race to challenger James Melone.

Miller said in her filing that the harassment has been ongoing since about the end of January. Another incident she noted claims the judge told his staff to wear t-shirts reading, “f— the mayor.”

NO CONTACT

During the order’s duration, the judge cannot be within 500 feet of protected people, which include the mayor, her minor child and a family member.

Telecommunications also are not permitted among the judge and those protected under the order.

The order also outlines that Leone will not be able to possess any deadly weapons during the protection period. Any weapons he does possess with have to be turned over to the Struthers Police Department, where they will be in protective custody until the order expires later this year.

A copy of the order has been sent to Leone along with the police department and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office.

cmcbride@tribtoday.com