An agreed six-month law-license suspension for an Ohio judge who dismissed a speeding ticket for his personal lawyer wasn't sufficient punishment, the state's top court said Friday.
It refused to accept the discipline-by-consent agreement between the now-retired jurist and the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline. Instead, the Ohio Supreme Court called for the board to consider "a more severe sanction" on remand, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Former Franklin County Environmental Court Judge Harland Hale announced in May that he would be retiring from the bench, shortly after the disciplinary complaint was filed against him. He is accused of dismissing a speeding ticket for attorney Patrick M. Quinn, “without any involvement from the prosecutor or Quinn,” the discipline by consent agreement says, and falsely stating on a judgment order that a prosecutor had taken the action. Quinn had been representing Hale in sexual harassment matters.
Full Article and Source:
Top state court nixes agreed 6-month law-license loss for ex-judge, wants ‘more severe sanction’
See Also:
Ex-judge Hale agrees to six-month law license suspension
Ohio Judge Accused of Misconduct for Dismissing His Own Lawyer's Speeding Ticket
Ohio: Judge Accused of Dismissing His Lawyer's Traffic Ticket Quits
2 comments:
They know the law; they know the rules.
If they can't follow them, they don't belong on the bench.
I'm with the top state court. Let's have some penalties for judges who are guilty of misconduct!
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