The other day I read an editorial in the Akron Beacon Journal when I was doing research on the Ohio Election Reform Bill. It seems there has been an on going problem between a majority of Judges in Summit County and Alex Arshinkoff, who President Bush called "ultimate king of grassroots politics".
To quote from the editorial:
Jon Husted, the House speaker, explained that he wouldn't bring the bill forward unless local lawmakers in the Republican majority expressed their support. Mary Taylor of Green and John Widowfield of Cuyahoga Falls did not step forward. To do so would have required crossing Alex Arshinkoff, the county Republican Party chairman. Taylor wants to be state auditor. Widowfield has long been a loyal soldier.
I then read an article from the Toledo Blade that outlined some of the facts concerning Court case loads in our region. This made me decide to take a closer look.
In an earlier article, in response to the Summit County Judges stating Civil Court Proceedings would face future delays under the current caseload; even Supreme Court Chief Justice Moyer stated:
``In 1998 and again in 2004, I have recommended to the General Assembly that the request of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas for two additional judges was a reasonable request and should be adopted. I am aware of the perception that unique political factors have impeded the adoption of appropriate legislation. The cause of your frustration is obvious,'' Moyer wrote.
At first I thought, okay this is probably Democrat vs Republican gamesmanship here...Yet, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported this in September of this year:
Summit County common pleas judges Mary Spicer, a Republican, and Jane Bond, a Democrat, filed the affidavits earlier this month. The documents are part of a defamation lawsuit against Alex Arshinkoff, chairman of the Summit County Republican Party, and others brought by Oriana House, a corporation hired by Summit County to oversee much of the county's jail and corrections operations.
It appears upon closer look that it is the battle over Oriana House who provides contract services to the Summit County Court and what they should or should not be required to make public that is at the root of this situation. Betty Montgomery (rumor has it that Alex Arshinkoff is no longer supporting Betty but will switch to supporting Blackwell) has filed suit against Oriana House and that case is now at the Ohio Supreme Court. [State of Ohio ex rel. Oriana House, Inc. v. Betty D. Montgomery, Auditor of State] If you read the list of those who have filed an Amicus Curiae on behalf of Appellant (Oriana House) it reads like a who's who in the Ohio Non-profit list.
Filed by: Association of Ohio Philanthropic Homes, Housing and Service
Filed by: Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio
Filed by: Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development
Filed by: Envirotest Systems Corporation
Filed by: Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies
Filed by: Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations
Filed by: Ohio Hospital Association
Filed by: Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy
Filed by: Ohio United Way
Filed by: The Action Ohio Coalition for Battered Women
Filed by: The Association for Children for Enforcement of Support
Filed by: The Betty Jane Center
Filed by: The Center for Community Solutions
Filed by: The Now Education and Legal Fund
Filed by: The Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies
Filed by: The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks
Filed by: The Ohio Head Start Association
Filed by: United Rehabilitation Services of Greater Dayton
Filed by: Ohio Community Corrections Association
Filed by: Ohio Domestic Violence Network
While of course a legal case is not decided on the basis of who files a brief in support, this does make one pause and consider for a moment the fact this many organizations have done so. Many of the organizations on that list I not only think highly of but support.
It appears there have been accusations leveled back and forth between some of the Judges and Alex Arshinkoff who has been fighting the increase in Judges for six years. (Amazingly almost the same amount of time the battle between Oriana House and Alex Arshinkof.)
No matter which side is "right" in this situation, it's obvious that Summit County does have a larger caseload than we do in Lucas County. It's also a shame that Republicans and Democrats are letting a side issue have such an impact as to the legal rights of Ohioans of Summit County. Allowing political games to continue for this long and that those elected would not do their jobs first no matter what...I'm left thinking of a quote by Sir Walter Scott:
Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!
4 comments:
I never knew it was Sir Walter Scott - I thought my mom made that up.
Nope, statistically speaking most Mother's quotes are based on proven fact. (I'm sticking with that)
:-)
Just another case of politicians playing politics...
The whole time I was reading this (before I got to the actual punchline):
Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!
I was thinking to myself:
Self, Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!
Then, when I made it to the last two lines and read them, it was deja vu all over again... ;-)
That's how I ended up with that as an ending phrase...I kept thinking the same thing as I was researching and writing it.
:-)
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