On the surface, the race for judge of Campbell Municipal Court this fall appears to be quite competitive. It features two experienced attorneys who have been active in law in that community over the past four decades and who have held positions of trust over the community’s legal matters.

But on closer inspection, the choice in this race between Campbell Law Director Brian J. Macala and attorney Mark J. Kolmacic is a no-brainer. Macala recently acknowledged he had forged documents of clients from his private practice, rendering him unfit for this or any judgeship.

A complaint filed by the Mahoning County Bar Association against Macala states on May 17, 2022, he signed the names of five people on probate filings regarding the estates of Marie E. and Ronald J. Harris in order to get a time extension.

Macala today recognizes the errors of his ways: “It doesn’t reflect well on me. It’s something I should not have done. I regret it, and I wish I had not done it. I did something very incorrect.”

And that “something” just happens to violate the No. 1 canon of the American Bar Association’s Model Code of Judicial Conduct, which states, “A judge shall uphold and promote the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.”

Clearly, forgery is improper and stains Macala’s otherwise impressive record of legal and civic work. It also, in our view, disqualifies him for the judgeship he seeks.

According to information submitted to The Vindicator and a personal interview with the newspaper’s editorial board, Macala, 56, has served as Campbell law director for many years. He seeks to keep the court self-sustaining and fiscally responsible. He also wants to broaden use of community service for defendants and convicts while meting out “fair and impartial justice.”

Some of those laudable goals, fortunately, are shared by Macala’s opponent. Kolmacic, 66, also said he seeks to run the court with honesty and integrity and agrees that community service is underused in the court district. He also is a strong advocate for beefing up court security and for exploring state grant opportunities to finance such improvements. Additionally, he seeks to secure grants to upgrade technological operations within the court.

Given those strong goals and given his experience as a Campbell law director, a seat he held from 2008 to 2011, and as an acting judge for incumbent Judge Patrick P. Cunning who will retire at the end of the year, voters can elect Kolmacic with confidence and not merely as the only alternative to a candidate who clearly has violated the public trust.

An unrelated recent ruling from the Georgia Supreme Court drives home that point forcefully. In removing an appeals court judge for taking advantage of elderly clients and for campaign finance abuses, it said, “We do not expect judges to be perfect; judges are human. But we can and do expect them to be honest. The judiciary has no place for dishonest persons.”

Likewise, Campbell Municipal Court has no place for Macala as judge.

Campbell Municipal Court has jurisdiction over Campbell and Coitsville.