An article in today's PD says, "Gov. Kasich appoints Ronald J. O'Leary as Cleveland Housing Court judge" (http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/03/gov_kasich_appoints_ronald_j_o.html).  This is one of the city's  municipal courts---why does the governor have any role in appointing the judge? If anyone appoints a judge, it should be the mayor of the city, not the governor of the state. Can anyone explain why Kasich has this authority--and why Jackson doesn't? Certainly seems like that State is way overstepping its place here. :wtf:

Muni Courts are still state chartered courts. State judges are elected or if a vacancy the appointment goes to the governor, because they are a state employee, not city employee.

 

The reason for Muni court is to more efficiently handle smaller cases and smaller matters in order to keep the Common Pleas courts available for bigger matters. However, it is part of the same court system in Ohio and subject to the same rules for the most part.

 

What you are probably thinking of are Mayors Courts, which are not real courts in the sense of a court hearing and conducted more often by an administrative judge, often the city attorney. These courts do not operate in the same capacity of a traditional court.

Municipal Court are often not limited to one City.  Lyndhurst, for example, has a broad coverage area.  Cleveland's muni court would also include prosecutions from Bratenahl.

Ron O'Leary is an exceptional choice for this job. He'll have to run for the position in the fall, but he is universally respected and will have a lot people eager to back him. He understands housing issues, is raising his family in the city, and is fair, level-headed and very smart.