Blair County is destined to be an important component of a proposed regional veterans court, despite what actually might be a lesser need for the regional participation than that of some other anticipated or already announced member counties.

As Blair President Judge Elizabeth Doyle has pointed out, vets who run afoul of the law continue to be “very ably served” by the local DUI and drug courts that hear most of the cases in which they are defendants.

Still, as Judge Wade Kagarise, an Army veteran, has noted, some “specific treatment options would be available” to honorably discharged veterans involved in Blair cases — and other counties’ cases — as part of the new regional system.

It therefore makes sense for Blair to be a participant on behalf of those who would be helped by that availability — helped in terms of avoiding recidivism and otherwise turning their lives around for the better.

In many cases involving honorably discharged former service members, trauma experienced during their service time is a contributing factor to their trouble with the law after returning from loyal service helping to protect this country.

That always must be the basis for special consideration in eligible cases — excluding crimes such as homicide or violence or those involving sexually related charges.

Currently, besides Blair, the counties anticipated as participating in the proposed court are Huntingdon, Centre, Clinton, Mifflin, Perry, Juniata and Clearfield. To date, memorandums of understanding dealing with participation have been signed by the counties of Clinton, Centre, Huntingdon and Blair.

However, the start of Blair’s official participation is being delayed until next January, when the county presumably will have its full authorized complement of judges seated.

This year, the county will be working to live with the challenges brought about by retirements, as well as by required retention elections involving two court seats.

Under Blair’s current circumstances, with four county judges doing the work of five, Doyle said, it would be impossible this year to devote the kind of Blair judicial and staff time that would be needed as part of the startup of the veterans court.

Still, Doyle said, “Blair County Court remains philosophically in favor of a regional veterans court and is excited about our future participation.”

When its work gets underway, this regional veterans court will be the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. Hopefully others will follow, based on guidance acquired from this initial well-organized commitment.

One major piece of unfinished business, noted in the Mirror’s Jan. 14-15 edition, deals with clarification of needed agreements encompassing county judges who will be presiding over vets court cases, their respective probation staffs and district attorneys from the member counties.

“Many of the counties earmarked for the regional effort are rural in nature,” the Jan. 14-15 Mirror article pointed out. “It would not be worthwhile creating a treatment program for just a few veterans in each county.”

However, regionally, enough participants presumably would be available to justify existence of the special court.

According to Kagarise, veterans being treated with other veterans can be beneficial because they may have shared similar combat experiences and, thus, possibilities for a certain valuable camaraderie can exist.

Final details of Blair’s participation need to be ironed out over the coming 12 months.

There is plenty of time to ensure that all transpires smoothly.