Veterans Treatment Court recertified by Ohio Supreme Court

The Lorain County Veterans Treatment Court has been recertified by the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Specialized Dockets through December 2022, Probate Judge James Walther announced Wednesday. The court earned final certification April 1. It is the third time the court has been certified. To be certified, the court had to submit an application, undergo a site visit and provide specific program materials in response to certification standards that went in to effect in January 2014. Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor hailed Judge James T. Walther and his staff for receiving final certification, writing: "Congratulations on this important accomplishment, and thank you for all that you do in service of the cause of justice in your community." "The time and hard work you applied to this effort demonstrate your commitment to innovative practices in administering justice." O'Connor wrote. "I know that the certification process is intensive, and I appreciate your support for ensuring that we have uniform quality and consistency in specialized dockets statewide." Specialized dockets are courts that are dedicated to specific types of offenses or offenders and use a combination of different techniques for holding offenders accountable while also addressing the underlying causes of their behavior. There are more than 210 specialized dockets in Ohio courts that deal with issues such as drugs and alcohol, mental health, domestic violence and human trafficking. The standards provide a minimum level of uniform practices for specialized dockets throughout Ohio, and allow local courts to innovate and tailor to meet their community's needs and resources. "We have a team of veteran mentors that really make our program special. These veterans did their duty, served their country and continue to give back by mentoring our veterans. They are remarkable," Walther said. "I am also thankful for the overwhelming support of Lorain County Prosecutor, Dennis Will, who is also a veteran of the U.S. Marines. He supported this program from the beginning." Certification requirements include establishing eligibility, evaluating effectiveness of the specialized docket and assembling a treatment team for implementing daily operations. The team can include licensed treatment providers, law enforcement, court personnel, and is headed by the specialized docket judge.