The Akron Legal News

Login | March 28, 2024

Meet Barberton’s new municipal court administrator

SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter

Published: July 19, 2016

There’s been a changing of the court administrator guard at Barberton Municipal Court as judges and others welcome their former drug court director Robert Incorvati to the position.

Incorvati officially started on June 6, replacing outgoing court administrator Susan Sweeney who became assistant court executive officer at the Summit County Court of Common Pleas.

“I have always been interested in the inner workings of courts,” said Incorvati. “My new position will provide me a chance to gain a more intricate understanding as I navigate the various duties of the job.”

Barberton Municipal Court Presiding Judge David Fish describes Incorvati as “a gentleman in every sense of the word. He’s courteous, respectful and a class act.

“He has a wide breadth of experience and given that he was already working in the court, we knew that he had all the requisite skills,” said Judge Fish.

Born and raised in Barberton, Incorvati received his bachelor’s degree in political science and his juris doctor from The University of Akron.

As a 3L, he obtained a Certificate of Limited Practice as Legal Intern from the Ohio Supreme Court, which allowed him to work at the Canton Law Department. At the department, he handled traffic trials, DUI cases and sat second chair during misdemeanor jury trials.

“The certificate allowed me to gain some exposure to court proceedings,” said Incorvati. “I enjoyed it so I decided to pursue a position with the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.”

He served as a criminal division assistant prosecutor in the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office for 14 years.

“My goal was always to be an assistant criminal prosecutor,” said Incorvati. “The Supreme Court certificate gave me a jump on learning the job and confirmed my desire to do that type of work.”

Afterwards he took a job at Germano, Rondy & Ciccolini Co. (now Ciccolini & Associates) in Akron, where he handled criminal defense matters at the municipal, state and federal levels as well as probate and other types of cases.

Incorvati lives in Green with his wife Nancy and has a son in college. He has served on the City of Green Board of Zoning Appeals for 20 years, spending the last 15 years as chairman.

He left private practice to become the director of the Barberton Municipal Drug Court, which received initial certification in late 2015.

Barberton Municipal Court Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger said she was pleasantly surprised when she received Incorvati’s resume for the drug court position.

“He was a very reputable attorney in the community,” said Judge Flagg Lanzinger. “Both myself and Judge Fish knew him because he came before our court.

“Shortly after he started as director in February, our court administrator Susan Sweeney told us she was moving to the common pleas court. We thought Bob was doing a very good job and it seemed like a logical progression. It’s a big benefit to have a lawyer as a court administrator.”

While Incorvati is new to the court administrator position, Judge Flagg Lanzinger said he has “hit the ground running.”

Former court administrator Susan Sweeney said Incorvati is “well suited for the role.

“He’s an attorney that has practiced in Barberton Municipal Court,” said Sweeney. “He knows the staff and understands court operations. I think he will do an outstanding job.”

Incorvati’s job duties range from administrative to overseeing employees and dealing with the budget.

“I will assist in presenting the court’s operating budget to the city council and administering the budget throughout the course of the year,” said Incorvati. “I’ll also be completing annual reports and pursuing grants that address specific needs.

“There is a lot of new learning involved, which I look forward to.”

The court recently received a $41,020 technology grant from the Ohio Supreme Court that will allow for the upgrade of the building’s security system.

“The former court administrator helped secure the grant,” said Incorvati, who is charged with implementing it. “We will be using the money to add an x-ray machine, a walk through scanner and communication devices to connect the courtrooms with each other and with the police and fire departments,” he said.

“The mayor and council’s offices are located in our building so they will benefit from the added security.”

Also on his agenda, working with city leaders on the potential construction of a new justice center building.

“This building dates back to the ‘50s,” he said. “There is a committee in place examining potential options down the road.

“There are many challenges ahead and I am very happy to be improving things for the community in which I grew up,” said Incorvati. “The former court administrator set a high bar, but she left things in great shape so I am able to pick up and go.”


[Back]