Courthouse Shakeup
Two Butler County judges will swap their caseloads beginning next year.
Judge Timothy McCune, who currently handles criminal cases in the county court, and Judge Thomas Doerr, who currently handles family and juvenile cases, will switch Jan. 2, according to Thomas Holman, deputy court administrator.
After the switch McCune will be in charge of the family and juvenile side of the court system, while Doerr will join Judge William Shaffer in overseeing criminal cases in the county court system.
Holman said this is a decision that was made between the judges sometime last week, and staff was informed on Monday.
The change “allows for the better administration of the judicial system here,” he said.
Holman said it is his understanding that McCune will retain his responsibility over the county's Veterans Court, a specialty court for veterans within the criminal side of the system, and Doerr will be taking over responsibility for the Behavioral Health Court, which deals with defendants who have mental health issues and had previously been overseen by McCune.
Doerr has been a judge in county court since 1992 and was named president judge in August 2000. McCune previously served as the district attorney for the county, before being confirmed to the bench in 2006.Doerr will retain the title of president judge, while Judge Marilyn Horan will continue serving as administrative judge. In October, the state Supreme Court transferred administrative authority over the court system to Horan, after Doerr recused himself from administrative duties following a federal lawsuit filed against him on Oct. 10 by Crystal Starnes, a county probation officer who is alleging sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination.That lawsuit continues in federal court, with her attorneys intending to file an amended complaint by mid-January.McCune, Doerr and Horan were unable to be reached for comment regarding the move.
