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COLUMBUS —
An anonymous complaint filed with the Ohio Supreme Court’s disciplinary board claims Craig Conley violated the rules for attorneys when he accused a local judge of grandstanding.
The complaint cites remarks published in The Repository on Jan. 23 in which Conley criticized Stark County Common Pleas Judge Frank Forchione for ordering sex offender Scott D. Studer to send his $5,000 fine money to a charity for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting.
“This was just grandstanding,” Conley said of Forchione in the article. “This was, ‘Jeeze, I can get my name in the paper.’ The courtroom is not a place for a popularity contest.”
At sentencing, which came five days after the school shootings in Newtown, Conn., Forchione also ordered the former Jackson High coach to serve 15 years in prison for videotaping boys in the varsity showers during an eight-year period.
Conley, representing a Bethlehem Township man, asked a visiting judge to decide if fine money can go anywhere other than the county treasury. Conley dropped his lawsuit after the charity returned the money at Forchione’s request.
The Rules of Professional Conduct say lawyers shouldn’t make false or reckless statements about the qualifications or integrity of a judicial officer. The complaint was referred to the Ohio State Bar Association for review.
In a response to the complaint, Conley said he stands by his remarks.
“My ‘grandstanding’ statement was made in good faith and certainly without either any knowledge of its falsity or any reckless disregard as to its truth. ...” wrote Conley, an attorney since 1983.
He has no prior sanctions. If there is evidence to support the complaint, it will be sent to the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline for review. The Ohio Supreme Court has the final say on any proposed sanction.
Conley has waived his right to privacy during grievance proceedings.
An anonymous complaint filed with the Ohio Supreme Court’s disciplinary board claims Craig Conley violated the rules for attorneys when he accused a local judge of grandstanding.
The complaint cites remarks published in The Repository on Jan. 23 in which Conley criticized Stark County Common Pleas Judge Frank Forchione for ordering sex offender Scott D. Studer to send his $5,000 fine money to a charity for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting.
“This was just grandstanding,” Conley said of Forchione in the article. “This was, ‘Jeeze, I can get my name in the paper.’ The courtroom is not a place for a popularity contest.”
At sentencing, which came five days after the school shootings in Newtown, Conn., Forchione also ordered the former Jackson High coach to serve 15 years in prison for videotaping boys in the varsity showers during an eight-year period.
Conley, representing a Bethlehem Township man, asked a visiting judge to decide if fine money can go anywhere other than the county treasury. Conley dropped his lawsuit after the charity returned the money at Forchione’s request.
The Rules of Professional Conduct say lawyers shouldn’t make false or reckless statements about the qualifications or integrity of a judicial officer. The complaint was referred to the Ohio State Bar Association for review.
In a response to the complaint, Conley said he stands by his remarks.
“My ‘grandstanding’ statement was made in good faith and certainly without either any knowledge of its falsity or any reckless disregard as to its truth. ...” wrote Conley, an attorney since 1983.
He has no prior sanctions. If there is evidence to support the complaint, it will be sent to the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline for review. The Ohio Supreme Court has the final say on any proposed sanction.
Conley has waived his right to privacy during grievance proceedings.
