ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - A court magistrate is entering his name in to replace retiring judge David Rodabaugh.
John Payne entered in his petition for the open seat at the Allen County Board of Elections. Payne currently presides over cases ranging from felony preliminary hearings to traffic violations in addition to the civil docket. The judge magistrate also presides over the city's veterans treatment court. Payne says that he aims to improve accountability when it comes to the court system.
"First is accountability, and accountability is oftentimes is dealing with the underlying issues that are bringing people into our court system. Drugs, alcohol, mental illness, those are significant issues that we need to deal with and we need to address them. It's hard work, but we have to do that to keep our community safe," said John R. Payne, who filed for open Lima Municipal Judge seat.
Payne also states that he will focus on improving court access to unrepresented persons.
