Legal Ethics
Ohio Judge Sanctioned for Allowing Cases to Languish
Posted May 21, 2008, 06:19 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
For the first time, the Ohio Supreme Court has sanctioned a judge for “unnecessary and unjustified delay” in issuing rulings in pending cases.
The court publicly reprimanded Judge Harry Sargeant Jr. of Sandusky for allowing cases “to languish in his court for an inordinate amount of time,” its opinion (PDF) said.
The complaint against Sargeant cited delays in six cases. The court noted the cases and took judicial notice of statistical reports showing he had a significantly higher percentage of cases on his docket that exceeded time guidelines than other judges with similar caseloads, the North Country Gazette reports.
Sargeant had reached an agreement with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel consenting to discipline. He plans to retire when his judicial term ends in December, the Toledo Blade reports.
Sargeant’s lawyer told the Blade that his client’s court was understaffed. Sargeant has hired a law clerk to assist him.