An Akron Municipal Court magistrate and former judge is stepping down from the bench.
The Beacon Journal reports today that Magistrate Orlando Williams' handling of two eviction cases involving the same woman seems questionable. In the first case, the landlord told the newspaper that Williams came to the apartment in question to check it out, something highly unusual. Williams also took the unusual step of scheduling a second hearing for three months later. Evictions are usually settled in as little as a few days.
The second case was handled by a magistrate who was filling in for Williams, but paperwork shows that Williams recused himself after the case was resolved.
Court officials wouldn't comment to the newspaper on Williams' resignation or provide any information from his personnel file. The resignation takes effect later this month.
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