Possible changes coming to local courts

FREMONT — Changes could be coming to the structure of Sandusky County's court system. County commissioners and state lawmakers are considering merging two part-time judge positions into one full-time judge position. Sandusky County has two county courts, in Clyde and Woodville, that handle misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic citations. Felony cases are handled by the county's court of common pleas in Fremont. Previously, two part-time judges operated in the two county courts. A meeting was hosted in late March where county commissioners, among other local officials, discussed potentially eliminating the part-time judge positions and creating a full-time judge position. That proposal came after Judge Jon Ickes learned that Judge John Kolesar would be resigning, sparking Ickes to contact State Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, to discuss implementing full-time judges since the "timing looked right," county administrator Theresa Garcia said. Legislation is pending in the Statehouse, Senate Bill 21, that would enact the switch from part-time judges to one full-time judge. "The proposed legislation would not impact the location or jurisdiction of the current courts," Garcia said. The Senate passed Senate Bill 21, which now is now waiting in the Ohio House's civil justice committee. "The county commissioners support this bill as it will provide consistency in the courts," she said.