Indicted Judge Harry Jacob, a Republican whom the Ohio Supreme Court disqualified as judge on Friday for an indictment by a county grand jury for allegedly operating a prostitution ring out of the court he presided over. Others malfeasance charges, all issued pursuant to a 19-count indictment, include money laundering, solicitation and having an unlawful interest in a public contract, all but solicitation of which are felony charges.
By Bret Crow | December 20, 2013
The Ohio Supreme Court issued an order today that Bedford Municipal Court Judge Harry J. Jacob III is disqualified from acting as a judge because of his felony indictment.
Judge Jacob was indicted by a grand jury Thursday for one third-degree felony count of bribery, three fourth-degree felony counts of promoting prostitution, six third-degree misdemeanor counts of soliciting, and one second-degree misdemeanor count of dereliction of duty.
Gov. Jud.R. III (6)(A) of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary in Ohio states: “A Justice or judge is disqualified from acting as a Justice or judge while there is pending an indictment or an information charging the Justice or judge with a crime punishable as a felony under state or federal law.”
In the order signed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, it notes that “it is further ordered that he shall remain disqualified while any and all indictments filed in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas are pending and until further order of this court.”
Copies of the order were sent to Judge Jacob, the other sitting judge of the Bedford Municipal Court (Brian Melling), the court’s administrator who also serves as its clerk, and the city’s fiscal officer.
Access Section III (Disability Retirement, Removal, or Suspension of Judges) of the rules
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