TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - A simple accident at the Scott Park Gun range has many wondering if the job of a judge is becoming more dangerous.
It was discovered on Thursday that the Honorable Michael Goulding, a Lucas County Common Please judge, shot himself in the leg while holstering his gun during a training session.
Judges are given the responsibility to sentence violent offenders and make rulings in cases that can change the course of someone's life forever.
And those rulings from the bench have made judges more aware of their personal safety, especially after judges nationally have been the target of violent attacks.
"It's a more heightened concern that we have. I think the issue was always there but it's been made manifest. It has become obvious because we have history of it," explained the The Honorable Gene Zmuda.
Judge Zmuda has been a judge for 15 years. He said he has seen more judges obtaining CCW's now than ever before.
"I don't know if it is their predisposition to get a CCW or if it's the acts of violence against judges that makes them do so, but as a reality they are getting more," he added.
Whether any judges carry concealed weapons for their own protection while outside of the courthouse is something courthouse security here in Toledo is unaware of.
But it may be something they could soon learn as an Ohio State house bill is working to allow judges to carry guns inside the courthouse and their courtrooms for personal protection.
"We have had threats on our judges and have had to provide extra security for our judges in the building to their cars and even at their homes on occasion around the clock security for our judges," explained Roger Kerner, the Director of Security at the Lucas County Courthouse.
Even when that happens, the security detail at the Lucas County Courthouse will continue to protect the public and judges even when court is not in session.
