Login | June 24, 2025
Mahoning Cty. Probate Judge Rusu welcomes new citizens to the U.S.
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: December 17, 2020
Mahoning County Probate Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr. welcomed a group of new United States citizens during a ceremony in late October.
Nine individuals officially became U.S. citizens on Oct. 29 after taking their oaths inside courtroom number two at the Mahoning County Courthouse.
“It was a very scaled-down version of the proceedings compared to the ones of the past,” said Judge Rusu. “There was no music or live singing and the Mahoning County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution did not hand out flags as they have been doing since the 1920s.
“We used Judge Maureen Sweeney’s courtroom because it was much larger.”
The October ceremony was the first one that Judge Rusu has presided over in 2020 and the fifth one he’s participated in since taking the bench in 2014.
“I think it was important that we swore in this group of individuals right before the election since they were then able to see how the election process played out,” he said.
Although the new citizens were not eligible to vote in the 2020 presidential election, Judge Rusu suggested they fill out a practice ballot.
“You can do your research on the candidates and the issues, get a sample ballot from the web, newspaper or make up your own and then make your decisions,” Judge Rusu said in a brief address to the new citizens. “Keep track of your decisions and determine after the elections are over how you did. You can do this without any pressure and to simply prepare yourself for the next election cycle.”
He also advised members of the group not to judge the candidates’ campaign tactics too harshly.
“I know that you probably have seen some of the debates, heard the commercials and have seen all of the television coverage of the candidates,” said Judge Rusu. “While you are getting to witness one of the greatest rights that we have as citizens of the United States--the right of freedom of speech--you are also getting to witness some of the negative results of that right.
“Now you are probably saying to yourself why can’t we simply tell them to stop doing, saying, or acting in certain ways? Well that simply cannot happen. As soon as you start down that road of limiting what people can say then you start down that slippery slope of censorship and then whoever is in charge gets to say what you hear and what you don’t.”
While the October ceremony was done in person with masks and other safety protocols in place, the court is currently conducting most of its hearings remotely, utilizing video conferencing technology.
“The court has to keep moving forward,” said Judge Rusu. “We cannot just put everything on hold; we have to revamp and adapt.
“We are continuing to hold certain contested hearings in person because these hearings deal with a number of sensitive life and death issues that require in-person attendance.”