Pubdate: Sat, 16 Dec 2000
Source: Cincinnati Post (OH)
Copyright: 2000 The Cincinnati Post
Contact:  http://www.cincypost.com/
Author: Kimball Perry, Post staff reporter

JUDGES KILL PLAN FOR 2ND DRUG COURT

As several candidates interview this weekend to replace Hamilton
County drug court Judge Deidra Hair, her dream of launching a second
drug court is dead - despite support for it from Ohio's Supreme Court
Chief Justice.

Presiding Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Kraft said
Friday he won't propose a second drug court. Hamilton County Common
Pleas Court Judge Patrick Dinkelacker, who is presiding judge next
year, said he won't propose it next year either, unless Kraft starts
the process this year.

''There are too many variables that have to fall into place,'' Kraft
said Friday. ''It's not in place. The things that have to be resolved
haven't been.''

That comes as a severe blow to Judge Hair and Hamilton County Common
Pleas Court Judge David Davis, who was prepared to resign from his
general division judgeship to preside over a second drug court.

Judge Hair, who resigns Dec. 31 after five years presiding over Ohio's
first drug court, hoped to leave her legacy with the implementation of
the second drug court. But some fellow judges - upset at what they
believed had become a private empire that didn't carry the same
responsibilities as other courtrooms - questioned the need for the
court and vowed to kill attempts at expansion.

Court was designed to hear cases in which people admit their guilt and
addiction and agree to get treatment.

Davis said Friday he's abandoned the idea of leaving his current job.

In a letter to Kraft last week, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice
Thomas Moyer said he would help secure the financing needed for the
extra court. The plan was for Moyer to appoint Davis to the second
court and for another judge - likely Hamilton County Municipal Court
Judge Robert Taylor - to assume Davis' case load.

''If assigning one of your sitting judges to assist with the drug
court docket appears to be the best alternative,'' Moyer wrote to
Kraft, ''then we will support a request for (another) judge to cover
the general division docket.''

Complicating the issue, Kraft added, are the interviews today for
candidates to replace Judge Hair.

''The appointment of a replacement judge is a political
consideration,'' Kraft said. ''That is totally out of the hands of
judges, and I can't do anything about it.''

Being considered for Judge Hair's seat are Taylor, assistant
prosecutor Steve Tolbert, Juvenile Court Magistrate Kim Wilson Burke
and attorney Jim Slattery.
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