The state’s top judge says the foreclosure crisis that’s gripped Ohio will live on in the court system for several years. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor says even though recent reports show signs of recovery in the mortgage market and the economy overall, she says judges and court personnel are still dealing with what she calls a mixed prognosis for now.
She says, “For at least the near term, we know that we will continue to have to reckon with the classic dilemma that governments face in times of economic crisis: Reduced revenue and funding coming at the same time as increased demand for services. In the courts, we will have to continue to work as a team to respond.”
O’Connor says a cut of more than 30% in the money the state sends to local governments makes this an even bigger challenge for some communities. She’s urging judges and local officials to communicate with each other on how to best manage the added workload with less money.