Maybe you have already had an experience with the Alliance Municipal Court. Hopefully, it was a pleasant experience or at least just a slightly painful one for your pocketbook. The third floor of City Hall at 470 E. Market Street houses the Alliance Municipal Court. The courtroom where Judge Robert Lavery presides during the day also serves as the meeting room for Alliance City Council on the first and third Monday of every month.

For now, you have to enter the building at 470 E. Market through the Market Street entrance and go up the steps. The new Freedom Center is being built right next door. Some offices in the old building will move around after the new Freedom Center is completed, so watch for the directional signs. There will also be elevator access to the courtroom from the new building, opening in early 2003. The courtroom, however, will not be moving and will still be on the third floor of the old building. Just as a note of interest, there is an historical mural on the wall behind the judge’s bench. The mural depicts Lexington Township in 1804 and is rather interesting. You might want to check it out sometime.

The Alliance Municipal Court not only covers the City of Alliance, but the surrounding townships of Marlboro, Lexington, Washington, Paris, and the portion of Minerva that’s in Stark County. That means this Municipal Court covers a population of about 60,000 people. The court hours are 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m Monday through Friday. Every Thursday there is night court for traffic offenses from 6p.m to 7p.m for those who can’t get off work for a court appearance.

What cases are handled in Municipal Court? Lawsuits up to $15,000, speeding tickets, auto accidents, small claims for $3000 or less, evictions, drunk driving cases, neighbor disputes, domestic violence. All civil cases are mediated with the hope of settling out of court. You can’t get divorced in Municipal Court, but you can get married by the Judge. The judge performs forty to fifty weddings a year.

Since taking the bench, Judge Lavery has instituted many programs aimed at curbing violence and possible criminal behavior. Anger management classes are offered on Monday and Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings. Substance abuse counseling, including alcohol and drugs, meets Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights and Saturday mornings. If you want more information on these classes, call 330-823-6181. You don’t have to be in trouble with the law to attend these sessions. The Alliance City School system’s adult education program also has a grant from State of Ohio, which is administered through the Alliance Municipal Court, to help folks with employment and adult education.

The Alliance Municipal Court handles about 8,400 cases a year. Judge Lavery says, "Seeing someone turn their life around is what makes it worth it." Three full time and four part time staff assist the judge. As far as court security goes, there are cameras in the courtrooms, in the halls, and outside in the parking lot. Cameras are monitored 24 hours a day from the dispatch room of the Police Department. There are alarms systems in all the offices also. The metal detector and x-ray system should be in place by January 1, 2002.