A way with words

You know where you stand when you're in the courtroom of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.

After spending the majority of the week in his court covering an aggravated murder trial, I was reminded of that again as he kept his court moving on a tight schedule and gave an earfull to attorneys for both sides after delays in getting witnesses to court on time also delayed the proceedings.

Krichbaum does not mince words and does not try to hide his emotions, whatever they may be.

If it's one thing the judge hates is any kind of delay, so to try his patience that way is not a good idea.

But the judge is also good for a quote, and the more serious the case, the better the quote.

Today, the wife of a drug informant who was murdered told the judge she wanted the killer ``kept in a cage.' Krichbaum seemed to agree, saying that James Hall deserved to be in a ``hole' for as long as possible.

This is not the first time I have heard such talk from the judge. He had similar sentiments about Martin Koliser, the man who robbed and ran over a Niles woman and the teens who tied up and beat an elderly South Side man.

But he is also always fair, and defendants who own up to their mistakes and express remorse will be treated fairly and with respect.

He is also the most introspective of judges I've seen on the bench, often referring to past cases, which he did today.