Lorain County Probate Judge James Walther returns $114,000 to general fund

Lorain County Probate Judge James Walther announced Monday that his office has returned of $114,271.42 to Lorain County's general fund, ahead of upcoming county budget hearings. In a news release, Walther said giving the money back underscores "his commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparent governance." The decision resulted from what Walther called "the unforeseen challenge of being unable to hire a magistrate for the current fiscal year." Walther asked the Board of Commissioners for the money in January to create a new magistrate position to handle guardianship programs, oversee the guardianship docket, a new guardianship mediation program, the visiting Guardian Angel program and the Volunteer Guardianship Program. Guardianship is "a court-ordered relationship" in which an appointed guardian acts on behalf of or in the interest of someone who is not able to care for themselves or their property due to age or health. It is one of the more-than 600 responsibilities of the Probate Court and takes up a large amount of Walther's time on the bench, he said earlier this year. Walther said he plans to fix the staffing situation in 2024. "While we faced challenges in hiring a magistrate this year, I am committed to ensuring that the necessary positions are filled for the effective functioning of the Lorain County Probate Court," he said in the news release. "Therefore, I plan to allocate funds to hire a magistrate for the fiscal year 2024." Walther also praised the clerks in his office for their "collaborative efforts, hard work, and dedication," their "diligence" and "their vital role in the efficient operation of the Probate Court."