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Longtime Struthers Muni Court judge to step down
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: December 21, 2017
A no-nonsense judge, who did everything by the book while striving to treat everyone fairly—that’s how colleagues say outgoing Struthers Municipal Court Judge James R. Lanzo conducted himself during his more than 20 years on the bench.
But on Dec. 31 Judge Lanzo will bid the court goodbye and Struthers Law Director and Prosecutor Dominic Leone III will take the helm.
“I am leaving the court in a very good position both financially and physically with the people I have on staff,” said Judge Lanzo, 73, who could not run for re-election due to age restrictions.
Struthers Municipal Clerk of Courts Linda Aey, who worked with Judge Lanzo for 22 years, said he would be missed.
“Judge Lanzo is a good guy,” said Aey, who is retiring on Jan. 1. “He was firm, but fair to all those who came before him.
“One of his major accomplishments is bringing computers to this court,” she said. “When I started here there were no computers and everything had to be written down in books. Now everything is computerized and we upgrade almost every year.”
Born in Youngstown and raised in Campbell, Judge Lanzo graduated from Campbell Memorial High School.
While he spent the majority of his career in the legal profession, it was not until he was an undergraduate at Youngstown University that he became interested in the law.
“When I was growing up, I wanted to be a pharmacist because a few of my relatives were pharmacists and it sounded like an interesting career,” said Judge Lanzo.
“I got into law to help people and when I can come up with the right answers, it makes me feel a great sense of accomplishment.”
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in education, he taught chemistry for seven years at Struthers High School. During the last four years, he also attended law school at night at The University of Akron.
He met his wife Kristine during his final year in law school. She was a nurse at St. Elizabeth in Youngstown.
“We met when I came to the hospital to visit someone,” said Judge Lanzo.
The couple has three children, Gina, James E. Lanzo, a sole practitioner and Jason, who serves as detention director at the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center.
“My father steered me toward public service,” said Jason.
“Growing up, I got the chance to watch him in court and I went to his swearing-in ceremonies,” said Jason. “He was the greatest dad anyone could ask for.
“He treated his kids the same way he dealt with those who came before him,” said Jason. “He didn’t tolerate any nonsense, but he was very fair.
“As judge, he was very good at taking things that did not work and making the necessary changes. His attitude was I was elected to move the court forward and that’s what I am going to do.”
Judge Lanzo began his legal career as an associate in Michael Clemente’s law office in Struthers.
In 1976, he became law director and prosecutor for the City of Struthers. The same year he opened his own practice in Youngstown, where he handles criminal, probate, divorce and personal injury matters.
In 1993, he left the position with the city to take the municipal court bench, where he presides over traffic, misdemeanor and preliminary felony hearings involving incidents in Struthers, Lowellville, New Middletown, Springfield Township, Poland Village and Poland Township.
There is also a civil division, which handles lawsuits up to $15,000.
“When I took the bench, the court was operating in the red,” said Judge Lanzo. “Our fines and other penalties were not high enough so I raised them and we have been operating in the black ever since.
“I also started a probation department and a community service department for people who could not afford to pay the fines.”
The judge has added two staff members and today there are four full-time and three part-time employees.
Sole practitioner Anthony Meranto has known Judge Lanzo since 1996, appearing before him many times over the years.
“We became very close friends,” said Meranto. “For the past five years, Judge Lanzo has recused himself from hearing any cases I am involved in to avoid the appearance of favoritism, even though he was tough and never treated me any differently when I did appear in front of him,” said Meranto, who handles criminal defense trial work.
“For example, Judge Lanzo has a rule that underage drinkers have to do two days in jail. I remember one time when I was representing a young girl and I told her she would have to go to jail she started crying. I told her to save that crying until we are in front of the judge.
“I argued and argued and she cried and we finally got him to agree to one day in jail,” said Meranto.
“He is very concerned about the jurisdiction and keeping residents safe so he wanted to be sure people got the message.”
Meranto said Judge Lanzo has old-fashioned values, but was progressive in his thinking when it came to moving the court forward.
“I will miss him greatly,” said Meranto.
His daughter, Gina Bradley, said she got the chance to observe her father one summer while working for the city.
“My dad has a strong presence and he kept the court running like clockwork,” said Bradley. “He’s always been a great father. When we were growing up he worked a lot but he coached all of us in baseball, which was his favorite sport.
“We had a wonderful, happy childhood.”
A longtime member of The Mahoning County and Ohio State bar associations, Judge Lanzo served as president of the Rotary Club of Struthers and the Struthers Business Association.
In 2011 the Struthers School Foundation for Educational Excellence inducted the judge into the Hall of Fame.
While Judge Lanzo will be stepping down from the bench, he will continue to maintain his legal practice.
He shares office space with his son James E. Lanzo, who focuses on criminal and family law matters.
“My dad’s law career definitely influenced my decision to become a lawyer,” said James.
“Working in the same place as my dad has been the greatest thing ever,” said James. “He’s been a great mentor and coach. He is a seasoned trial attorney and I was able to learn a lot from him.
“As a judge, he was always fair,” said James. “While he is going to continue to practice, I suspect he will take on the cases he is most interested in handling.”
Once he steps down from the bench, Judge Lanzo plans to travel with his wife and spend even more time with his family.
“I am very happy with my career and the way it turned out,” said Judge Lanzo. “I could not have asked for a better career or a better profession.”