Disciplinary Counsel v. O'Neill (103 Ohio St. 3d 204, 2004)

Per Curiam.

{¶ 1} Respondent, Deborah P. O’Neill of Columbus, Ohio, Attorney Registration No. 0007128, a judge of the Common Pleas Court of Franklin County, was admitted to the practice of law in 1980. In a complaint filed on June 17, 2002, amended on November 19, 2002, relator, Disciplinary Counsel, charged respondent with six counts of misconduct involving numerous violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility and the Code of Judicial Conduct.

{¶ 2} Relator’s allegations implicated incidents from 1997 through 2002. Count I of the complaint charged that during this period, respondent had repeatedly held improper ex parte conversations, failed to appropriately exercise judicial discretion, and failed to follow the law in a variety of ways, including unwarranted bond revocation. Count II charged that respondent had improperly refused to allow attorneys to preserve their objections on the record. Count III charged that respondent had improperly denied continuances without exercising judicial discretion. Count IV charged that respondent had repeatedly made misrepresentations to lawyers, other judges, and court personnel in the course of her duties. Count V charged respondent with acts of judicial intemperance on numerous occasions, including rudeness to judges, other court personnel, counsel, litigants, and members of the public. Finally, Count VI charged that respondent had improperly used county resources and personnel to promote her unsuccessful campaign in 2002 for a seat on the Franklin County Court of Appeals.

{¶ 3} A three-member panel of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline heard the cause, conducting 19 days of proceedings during May, August, September, October, and November 2003, and February 2004. From the testimony of 99 witnesses, the parties’ factual stipulations, 529 stipulated exhibits, and numerous other exhibits, a majority of the panel made findings of misconduct with respect to Counts I, II, IV, V, and VI of the complaint and recommended that respondent be suspended from the practice of law for two years. The dissenting panel member found misconduct only with respect to Count V and recommended a one-year suspension, conditionally stayed, and a probation period with mandatory professional counseling and mentoring. The board adopted the panel majority’s findings of misconduct as to Counts I, IV, V, and VI, as well as the finding of no misconduct as to Count III, and further found no misconduct in connection with Count II. The board recommended that respondent be suspended from the practice of law for two years.

Count I

{¶ 4} The most serious misconduct established in support of Count I was that respondent has used a variety of coercive tactics to expedite dispositions in criminal cases, usually as a means to manage her docket. In three cases during the relevant time period, respondent forced pleas from defendants by threatening to revoke or actually revoking their bonds' — not for acceptable reasons such as that the defendants posed flight risks or safety concerns or had failed to appear— but because the defendants wanted to exercise their rights to refuse an offered plea and go to trial. Similarly, respondent improperly revoked the defendant’s bond in a fourth case because his counsel was not prepared for trial on the trial date. In a fifth case, respondent, after rejecting a misdemeanor plea offered by the parties, threatened to impose the maximum sentence if the defendant did not plead guilty as charged in the indictment and chose to exercise his right to a trial.

{¶ 5} The effect of this type of misconduct was discussed in People v. Alt (2000), 277 A.D.2d 138, 139, 717 N.Y.S.2d 114, reversed on other grounds (2001), 96 N.Y.2d 840, 729 N.Y.S.2d 434, 754 N.E.2d 193:

{¶ 6} “It is impermissibly coercive for a trial court to tell a criminal defendant that it will impose the maximum sentence if he is convicted after a trial. * * * When a court announces a blanket policy of imposing the maximum sentence for a certain type of crime, regardless of any mitigating evidence that may develop at trial, a defendant may feel he has no choice but to plead guilty. ‘The inescapable effect of the court’s statement, under the circumstances in which the plea was taken, was to coerce defendant into pleading guilty, and we find, therefore, that the plea was not a voluntary one.’ (People v. Wilson [ (1997), 245 A.D.2d 161, 163, 666 N.Y.S.2d 164]).”

{¶ 7} Judges must routinely exercise their discretion in a myriad of ways while executing their duties in the administration of justice, and the abuse of that discretion typically generates an appeal, not disciplinary proceedings. But as the board found, judicial discretion does not extend to these strong-arm measures that respondent used to compromise defendants’ right to trial. Thus, rather than classifying respondent’s actions as an abuse of legitimate discretion, we agree that respondent’s repeated use of the bond process and jail as leverage fell “outside any permissible discretion” and was “totally improper.” For such an egregious departure from the bounds of judicial discretion, professional discipline is warranted.

{¶ 8} In another grave example of misconduct, respondent in another case failed to act as an impartial arbiter, refused to follow a court of appeals mandate, and interfered as an advocate, all in violation of the duties incumbent on a judge. In this sixth incident, a criminal defendant who had been charged with felony sex offenses and kidnapping entered an Alford plea to a non-sex-offense misdemean- or, simple assault. As a term of his probation, respondent ordered the defendant into sex-offender counseling, which, unknown to counsel in the case, would require respondent to admit that he had committed a sexual assault on a victim. The defendant refused to make this admission, and he was therefore discharged from counseling programs.

{¶ 9} Respondent revoked the defendant’s probation for noncompliance. On appeal, the court of appeals invalidated the sex-offender-counseling condition of the defendant’s probation. Despite this order and the plea she had accepted, respondent persistently attempted on remand to enforce the condition and to treat the defendant as a sex offender. Respondent also threatened on the record that if the defendant did not comply with the ordered counseling, the prosecution would file a motion for withdrawal of the guilty plea and that she would then set the matter for trial as a sexual offense.

{¶ 10} By refusing to comply with the mandate of an appellate court, respondent violated another basic judicial duty. Moreover, because the right to withdraw a plea belongs to the defendant alone, respondent’s threat of withdrawal on the state’s motion was, as the board found, “legally impossible” to fulfill. The threat was also highly coercive, so much so that the defendant decided to forgo his granted probation and serve the remainder of his jail term.

{¶ 11} In addition, respondent engaged in improper ex parte communications and violated her duties to remain impartial and avoid advocacy. In a seventh case, respondent refused to accept two codefendants’ pleas of no contest to misdemeanors because the pleas were offered on the date of trial, and respondent had a policy that after pretrial, defendants could only plead guilty to the charges in the indictment or go to trial. Respondent enforced her policy in this instance so vigorously that the codefendants pled guilty to the indicted felony offense, notwithstanding that both stood to be deported for their crimes. After their convictions were reversed on appeal because of the coercion, respondent, in a blatant act of advocacy, contacted the prosecutor in the underlying case and encouraged her to appeal the reversal, saying, “We’re going to have to fight this.”

{¶ 12} Similarly, in an eighth case, respondent accepted a defendant’s plea to corruption of a minor, a fourth-degree felony, and immediately afterward directed defense counsel to solicit “a better deal” from a supervising prosecutor in the case. When the prosecutor refused, respondent attempted to prevail upon the prosecutor herself.

{¶ 13} “The responsibility of a judge is to decide matters that have been submitted to the court by the parties. The judge may not, having decided a case, advocate for or, as in this case, materially assist one party at the expense of the other. Such advocacy creates the appearance, and perhaps the reality, of partiality on the part of the judge. This, in turn, erodes public confidence in the fairness of the judiciary and undermines the faith in the judicial process that is a necessary component of republican democracy.” In re Complaint Against White (2002), 264 Neb. 740, 752, 651 N.W.2d 551. Judicial advocacy through ex parte communications therefore also warrants discipline. Disciplinary Counsel v. Ferreri (2000), 88 Ohio St.3d 456, 727 N.E.2d 908.

{¶ 14} Three other examples of respondent’s failure to comply with the law and act in a manner that promotes public confidence in the judiciary were also established in support of Count I. In addition to her advocacy in the eighth case, respondent further refused the parties’ request for a presentencing investigation that might have justified a community-control sanction instead of prison for the defendant — an 18-year-old nearly homebound because of a liver transplant. Instead, respondent sentenced the defendant to prison and thereafter misrepresented her reasons for doing so.

{¶ 15} In a subsequent discussion with a supervising prosecutor in the case, respondent initially blamed the harsh sentence on the assistant prosecutor who had appeared, claiming that by refusing to waive the presentence investigation, the assistant prosecutor had somehow forced respondent under sentencing statutes to send the defendant to jail. That explanation was false. To avoid the necessity of a prison term, which respondent herself had said was not warranted, respondent had only to order a presentence report as requested. See R.C. 2951.03, requiring a presentence investigation before a community-control sanction may be considered. Moreover, during the disciplinary proceedings, respondent initially explained that she had already known what a presentence investigation would have revealed. And later she testified before the panel that she had wanted to employ a “scared straight” approach with this defendant and would not have considered probation. These facts confirm for us the board’s finding that, for whatever purpose, respondent misrepresented her reasoning for sentencing this defendant.

{¶ 16} In a ninth case, a defendant accepted a plea bargain. On the day before sentencing, his counsel asked respondent (with the prosecution’s consent to the ex parte communication) to order a presentence investigation and to continue the defendant’s bond pending the investigation. Respondent agreed. The next day, defense counsel appeared for the 9:00 a.m. hearing, but the defendant was two hours late, explaining that he had been unable to get transportation. Summoning them to the bench, respondent lost her composure, slamming books and desk drawers and screaming about how the defendant had interfered with her intention to leave at 11:00 a.m. that day.

{¶ 17} Respondent then proceeded to sentence the defendant, notwithstanding her consent to a presentence investigation on the day before. His counsel was therefore not prepared to speak on sentencing or mitigation. Respondent sentenced the defendant to six months with jail credit. Respondent testified before the panel that she did not remember speaking with defense counsel but also insisted that she would not have had a conversation of that kind under the circumstances of that case. The board credited defense counsel’s testimony and found respondent’s sentencing of his client to be retaliatory, a finding that we now adopt.

{¶ 18} Similarly, in a tenth case, a defendant charged with bank robbery made an unexpected plea of guilty to the full indictment at a first pretrial, and the prosecutor requested a continuance until a bank teller was able to be present to make a victim-impact statement, a privilege guaranteed by the Ohio Rights of Victims of Crimes Act, R.C. 2930.14. Respondent refused, saying, “I want to get this case off my docket.” A debate ensued in which the prosecutor repeatedly refused to proceed until she was permitted to explain on the record why the victim had not been allowed to testify, and respondent repeatedly refused to allow a record to be made. None of these discussions appeared on the record, and respondent did not grant a continuance until the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney himself gave respondent a copy of the victims’ rights statute. Respondent later falsely told the court reporter that the prosecutor was considering disciplinary action against the reporter for the reporter’s failure to make the requested record.

{¶ 19} Respondent insisted that she had adequate justification for her actions in these cases and that she had not attempted to force the defendants to plead to charges against their wishes. Respondent’s explanations and denials, however, were contradicted by virtually all of the witnesses to these events and, at times, by the records she prepared to document them. We therefore accept the board’s credibility determinations on these facts and also find respondent’s accounts to be implausible.

{¶ 20} Upon review of the board’s factual findings relative to Count I, we agree that respondent engaged in a series of transgressions that violated the following provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Code of Professional Responsibility: Canon 1 (a judge shall uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary), Canon 2 (a judge shall respect and comply with the law and shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the judiciary), Canon 3 (a judge shall perform the duties of judicial office impartially and diligently), Canon 3(B)(2) (a judge shall be faithful to the law and maintain professional competence in it), Canon 3(B)(4) (a judge shall be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity), Canon 3(B)(7) (a judge shall not initiate, receive, permit, or consider communications made to the judge outside the presence of the parties or their representatives concerning a pending or impending proceeding), Canon 3(E)(1) (a judge shall disqualify herself in a proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned), Canon 4 (a judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge’s activities), DR 1-102(A)(4) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation), and DR 1-102(A)(5) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice).

Count II

{¶ 21} Count II alleged that respondent refused to allow attorneys to go on the record to preserve their objections to respondent’s rulings. Upon review of the board’s factual findings on Count II, we agree that the evidence presented to establish the violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Disciplinary Rules charged in that count was not clear and convincing.

Count III

{¶ 22} Upon review of the board’s factual findings for Count III, we agree that relator has not proven by clear and convincing evidence that respondent violated the Code of Judicial Conduct or the Disciplinary Rules by denying continuances. Granting or denying a request for a continuance is within the “ ‘broad, sound discretion of the trial judge.’ ” State v. Ahmed, 103 Ohio St.3d 27, 2004-Ohio-4190, 813 N.E.2d 637, ¶ 44, quoting State v. Jones (2001), 91 Ohio St.3d 335, 342, 744 N.E.2d 1163. “The need for a principled approach to determining the limits of judicial power or discretion is important because of the danger, of compromising judicial independence through the random or arbitrary application of ethical norms.” Shaman, Lubet & Alfini, Judicial Conduct and Ethics (3 Ed.2000) 35, Section 2.01. Even an abuse of discretion is not necessarily tantamount to a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct. See, e.g., W. Virginia Judicial Inquiry Comm. v. Dostert (1980), 165 W.Va. 233, 271 S.E.2d 427, 433; Oberholzer v. Comm. on Judicial Performance (1999), 20 Cal.4th 371, 398, 84 Cal.Rptr.2d 466, 975 P.2d 663.

Count IV

{¶ 23} In Count IV, the evidence established that respondent engaged in a pattern of misrepresentation in her interactions with judges, litigants, attorneys, and court personnel. In two cases during the pertinent period, respondent misrepresented to common pleas court judges that actions had either occurred or not occurred during court proceedings. In the first of these cases, which the board determined to be “the most troublesome” of the incidents, respondent misrepresented in a memorandum to the administrative judge, which she distributed to all of the common pleas court judges, that she had ruled on a petition for an emergency protective order, that she had found that the petitioner had not met her burden of proof, that she had advised the petitioner that she would grant the protection order if the petitioner could not obtain one from the municipal court, and that the petitioner’s nonattorney advocate had not answered her questions. In the second case, respondent falsely advised other judges at a meeting that she had never denied anyone the opportunity to make a record, although she had done so on at least two occasions.

{¶ 24} In a third case, respondent told a criminal defendant and her counsel during sentencing that they had not timely appeared for trial at 9:00 a.m. and that respondent had appeared before 9:00 a.m. But court parking garage records proved that respondent had not arrived until 9:30 a.m. that day.

{¶ 25} Moreover, in one remaining case, respondent misrepresented to court personnel that a court reporter was leaving work early without respondent’s permission.

{¶ 26} As the board concluded, these multiple misrepresentations, when considered with the additional misrepresentations found to violate DR 1-102(A)(4) in Counts I and V, represent “the most serious charges” against respondent. Respondent’s continued denials of this misconduct were contradicted by the evidence, and the board properly concluded that her testimony was not credible. And these misrepresentations were not innocuous. For example, she sought to have the court reporter disciplined for supposedly leaving early without permission.

{¶ 27} By misrepresenting events that occurred in court proceedings and in the court itself, respondent failed to treat other judges, litigants, attorneys, and court personnel with courtesy, respect, and honesty and thus undermined public confidence in the integrity of the judicial system. As the Supreme Court of Iowa recently observed, “a judge who misrepresents the truth tarnishes the dignity and honor of his or her office” because “[tjruth and honesty lie at the heart of the judicial system, and judges who conduct themselves in an untruthful manner contradict this most basic ideal.” In re Inquiry Concerning McCormick (Iowa 2002), 639 N.W.2d 12, 16. And by engaging in conduct “that would appear to an objective observer to be unjudicial and prejudicial to the public esteem for the judicial office,” respondent acted in a manner prejudicial to the administration of justice, as prohibited by DR 1-102(A)(5). Cleveland Bar Assn. v. Cleary (2001), 93 Ohio St.3d 191, 206, 754 N.E.2d 235.

{¶ 28} Upon review of the board’s factual findings relative to Count IV, we agree that respondent engaged in a series of deliberate misrepresentations and thereby committed additional violations of Canons 1, 2, 3, 3(B)(2), 3(B)(4), and 4, and DR 1-102(A)(4) and (5).

Count V

{¶ 29} Count V involves a series of incidents in which respondent, between October 1997 and July 2000, acted in an unbecoming, unprofessional, and discourteous fashion towards her staff, other court personnel, visiting judges, law enforcement personnel, attorneys, probation officials, and members of the public. In July 2000, respondent attended a personnel committee meeting and admitted that she had problems dealing with her employees and pledged to do better. In early 2001, Judge Michael H. Watson, who was then serving as the administrative judge of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, met privately with respondent in an attempt to address these concerns. Judge Watson had previously offered to assist respondent in any way he could, and at the 2001 meeting he offered constructive suggestions on how to deal with people whom she perceived to be challenging her authority. Judge Watson testified that respondent was initially receptive to his advice but that she quickly became defensive, stating that she was tired of people “fing with her.” As the record demonstrates, respondent’s behavior and demeanor did not improve after these meetings.

{¶ 30} The record shows a pattern of rude, undignified, and unprofessional conduct that included abusive verbal outbursts, unjustified expulsions from the courtroom, and berating or humiliating persons in the presence of others. Respondent also lodged numerous verbal and written complaints about court or court-affiliated personnel that were not factually accurate. These outbursts and complaints were often accompanied by threats of discipline or termination.

{¶ 31} Witness testimony painted a hostile work and courtroom environment in which court staff were constantly on edge and persons appearing before respondent were frightened and intimidated because of her volatile and unpredictable personality. Personnel issues and simple differences of opinion and interpretation could not be resolved because of respondent’s inaccessibility and her steadfast refusal to engage in two-sided dialogue. Testimony persistently describes respondent as a person who would not listen to the concerns of others and dismissed any view other than her own.

{¶ 32} Much of the testimony as to this count went unrebutted at the hearing. In other instances, respondent asserted that she had sufficient justification for her action. On still other occasions, respondent offered a version of the facts diametrically opposed to that of the witness. As in the previous counts, the witnesses to these events steadily contradict respondent’s explanations and denials. We once again, therefore, accept the board’s determination as to the veracity of these allegations and reject as unpersuasive respondent’s version of the facts.

{¶ 33} An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. Canon 1 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The primary purpose of judicial discipline is to protect the public, guarantee the evenhanded administration of justice, and maintain and enhance public confidence in the integrity of this institution. Kloepfer v. Comm. on Judicial Performance (1989), 49 Cal.3d 826, 864-865, 264 Cal.Rptr. 100, 782 P.2d 239. Judicial misconduct undermines these goals and, in so doing, demeans the judicial system itself. See In re Probert (1981), 411 Mich. 210, 225, 308 N.W.2d 773.

{¶ 34} Respondent’s actions were not random, isolated incidents but instead reflect a pattern of discourteous, impatient, and undignified behavior that not only poisoned the immediate environment but extended far beyond as well. The hostile work environment created by respondent unquestionably compromised the ability of court personnel to perform their important functions to the best of their ability, which directly affects the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial process. Other jurisdictions have held that rude and abusive treatment of court staff constitutes a violation of judicial canons. Kloepfer, In re Inquiry Concerning Holien (Iowa 2000), 612 N.W.2d 789.

{¶ 35} Respondent’s conduct in the courtroom certainly had the same deleterious effect on the attorneys, law enforcement officers, and other individuals indispensable to the administration of justice. See Holien. Additionally, in at least one instance, respondent’s intemperance threatened the physical well-being of others. Respondent’s decision on November 30, 1999, to leave the bench and confront a deputy sheriff while the deputy was escorting an agitated criminal defendant to lock-up directly compromised the safety of every person in the courtroom.

{¶ 36} Respondent’s rebuttal testimony convinces us that she has no appreciation of the gravity of her actions or their effect on the integrity and operation of both her courtroom and the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas as a whole. Equally important, respondent was completely indifferent to the effect of her actions on the public’s perception of the integrity, impartiality, and fairness of the justice system. As aptly stated by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in In re Kellam (Me.1986), 503 A.2d 1308, 1312:

{¶ 37} “Although discourtesy does not constitute an error or violation of law in the decision-making process, such conduct on the part of a judge is particularly egregious because it undermines respect for the law in a most insidious manner. Our appellate process effectively corrects judicial error and the mere occurrence of such error does not usually inflict lasting damage upon our system of laws. On the other hand, a litigant who is subjected to rude and insensitive treatment is left without recourse. Whether the litigant wins or loses, the end result is an irreparable loss of respect for the system that tolerates such behavior.”

{¶ 38} This was certainly true for a victim of a brutal attempted murder who was ejected from the courtroom by respondent for whispering to a companion. As a result, the distraught victim was absent from both the defendant’s plea and sentence. And surely it was also true for anyone who observed respondent’s courtroom outbursts. Judicial intemperance “invariably conveys the message of a closed mind,” and witnesses to such displays rarely accept that the decision of a hostile and combative judge is fair. In re O’Dea (1993), 159 Vt. 590, 605, 622 A.2d 507.

{¶ 39} We recognize that judges differ in both style and personality and that these qualities, in and of themselves, are not matters for discipline. But whatever a judge’s style, “[pjatience, dignity and common courtesy are essential parts of judging, whatever the personality of the judge,” and “a pattern of judicial discourtesy represents a profound threat to the institution of the law and requires a strong response.” Id. at 604 and 605, 622 A.2d 507.

{¶40} Upon review of the board’s findings as to Count V, we agree that respondent repeatedly acted in an unbecoming, unprofessional, and discourteous manner towards many with whom she interacted as both judge and judge/employer. We find that this conduct violates Canons 1, 2, 3, 3(B)(4), 3(C)(1) (a judge shall diligently discharge the judge’s administrative responsibilities without bias or prejudice and maintain professional competence in judicial administration, and should cooperate with other judges and court officials in the administration of court business) and 4 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, as well as DR 1-102(A)(5) of the Code of Professional Responsibility.

Count VI

{¶ 41} Finally, upon review of the factual findings of the board relative to Count VI, we agree that the respondent engaged in misconduct that violated the following provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct: Canon 4, Canon 7(C)(1) (a judicial candidate shall prohibit public employees subject to his or her direction or control from soliciting or receiving campaign fund contributions), and Canon 7(C)(2)(a) (a judicial candidate personally shall not solicit or receive campaign funds).

(¶ 42} The misconduct established by the evidence in support of Count VI was that respondent personally solicited campaign contributions through a staff attorney, from both the staff attorney’s future employer and her husband’s law firm, while the staff attorney remained a public employee under respondent’s control. Respondent engaged in the campaign solicitation as a meagerly attended campaign fundraiser in her honor drew to a close. Respondent approached the staff attorney and demanded that both her future law firm and her husband’s law firm “needed to step up to the plate and contribute to her campaign” in the maximum allowed PAC amount. Testimony also supported that the respondent’s solicitation of campaign funds from the husband’s firm implicated one of the firm’s cases that had recently been before respondent, in that respondent stated that the firm “owed her” for the favorable verdict. Respondent’s campaign solicitation occurred in the presence of an additional two attorneys, who the board determined were credible witnesses and whose testimony solidly supported the board’s findings of misconduct as to Count VI.

{¶ 43} Respondent insisted that she never inappropriately solicited campaign contributions from anyone and that she had only inquired as to whether the staff attorney’s husband was coming to the fundraiser that evening. Respondent also insisted that she did not discuss the favorable verdict that evening. The board did not find respondent’s testimony credible, and, deferring to the board’s determinations on these facts, we agree.

{¶ 44} Canon 4(A) prohibits judges from using the prestige of judicial office to advance their private interests. One example of this is represented by the admonition in Canon 7(C)(1) against judges’ soliciting campaign contributions through public employees. Canon 7 guards against actual or apparent bias by restricting the political and fund-raising activity of judges, shielding judicial candidates and the public alike from dangers inherent in the direct solicitation of campaign funds. See In re Disqualification of Ney (1995), 74 Ohio St.3d 1271, 1272, 657 N.E.2d 1367. The breach of these restrictions warrants discipline.

Sanction

{¶ 45} In determining the appropriate sanction to impose on respondent for her violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct and Disciplinary Rules in Counts I, IV, V, and VI, “ ‘we consider the duties violated, respondent’s mental state, the injury caused, the existence of aggravating or mitigating circumstances, and applicable precedent.’ ” Disciplinary Counsel v. Kaup, 102 Ohio St.3d 29, 2004-Ohio-1525, 806 N.E.2d 513, ¶ 11, quoting Disciplinary Counsel v. Evans (2000), 89 Ohio St.3d 497, 501, 733 N.E.2d 609.

{¶ 46} Respondent violated duties owed under the Code of Judicial Conduct and Disciplinary Rules, including duties to the public, DR 1-102(A)(4) and (5), and the judiciary, see, e.g., Canon 1 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. See Portage Cty. Bar Assn. v. Mitchell, 101 Ohio St.3d 1, 2003-Ohio-6449, 800 N.E.2d 1106, ¶ 12; Disciplinary Counsel v. Shramek, 98 Ohio St.3d 441, 2003-Ohio-1636, 786 N.E.2d 869, ¶ 9.

{¶ 47} Respondent’s misconduct also resulted in harm — most notably to criminal defendants who were subjected to respondent’s threats and revocation of bond if they chose to go to trial — as detailed in Count I. In addition, respondent’s misconduct demeaned judges, lawyers, litigants, and court employees and caused a loss of respect for the judicial system.

{¶48} Regarding aggravating circumstances, respondent’s misconduct evidenced a selfish motive, a pattern of misconduct, multiple offenses, the submission of false statements in the disciplinary process, a refusal to acknowledge the wrongful nature of her conduct, and harm to vulnerable persons, e.g., criminal defendants and court personnel. See Section 10(B)(1)(b), (c), (d), (f), (g), and (h) of the Rules and Regulations Governing Procedure on Complaints and Hearings Before the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline (“BCGD Proc.Reg.”).

{¶49} In mitigation, the court has never disciplined respondent in over 20 years of practice, including over 10 years as a judge. Kaup, 102 Ohio St.3d 29, 2004-Ohio-1525, 806 N.E.2d 513, ¶ 8; BCGD Proc.Reg. 10(B)(2)(a). In addition, since 1993, respondent has been actively involved in educating middle school and high school students about the legal system, visiting over 400 classes in 63 schools in Franklin and surrounding counties. Cleveland Bar Assn. v. Briggs (2000), 89 Ohio St.3d 74, 75, 728 N.E.2d 1049 (mitigating evidence in attorney-discipline proceeding included political, cultural, and charitable events).

{¶ 50} In analyzing these and other pertinent factors, we first note that this is an extraordinary case that is “complex and hotly contested” and unprecedented; as the board determined, “there is no Ohio case similar in size and scope to the charges against Respondent.” This case involves countercharges that this proceeding was politically motivated and has been highly publicized.

{¶ 51} “The political context and highly publicized nature of these charges cannot distract us from the seriousness of the underlying conduct * * *.” In re Kroger (1997), 167 Vt. 1, 15, 702 A.2d 64. Respondent’s continued pattern of misrepresentation, threats, and intemperate behavior to judges, lawyers, litigants, and court personnel is both inexcusable and detrimental to the integrity of the judiciary.

{¶ 52} Because the depth and scope of the charges in this case are so unusual, the fashioning of an appropriate sanction for this misconduct is not an easy task; however, respondent’s pervasive conduct of misrepresentation in violation of DR 1-102(A)(4) by itself warrants an actual suspension from the practice of law for an appropriate period of time. See, e.g., Disciplinary Counsel v. Hutchins, 102 Ohio St.3d 97, 2004-Ohio-1805, 807 N.E.2d 303, ¶ 32-33; Disciplinary Counsel v. Fowerbaugh (1995), 74 Ohio St.3d 187, 658 N.E.2d 237, syllabus. The sanction of an actual suspension does not in any way limit the exercise of discretion that judges routinely and necessarily exercise in the performance of their duties. It merely reinforces what should already be manifest: judges should not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.

{¶ 53} But in determining the appropriate length of the suspension and any attendant conditions, we must recognize that the primary purpose of disciplinary sanctions is not to punish the offender, but to protect the public. See Ohio State Bar Assn. v. Weaver (1975), 41 Ohio St.2d 97, 100, 70 O.O.2d 175, 322 N.E.2d 665; Hickey v. N. Dakota Dept. of Health & Consol. Laboratories (N.D.1995), 536 N.W.2d 370, 372.

{¶ 54} We are persuaded here that respondent’s repeated volatile outbursts and unprovoked intemperate actions evidence a potential behavioral cause for her misconduct that would be best addressed by a mental health professional. While this possibility does not diminish the effects of respondent’s misconduct, it perhaps explains what the board had “struggled throughout these hearings to understand.”

{¶ 55} Taking all the foregoing facts and considerations into account, we find the board’s recommendation of a two-year suspension to be inappropriate under the circumstances of this case and find a two-year suspension with one year stayed on conditions to be in order. Accordingly, respondent is hereby suspended from the practice of law for two years; however, the second year of this suspension is stayed on the following conditions: respondent shall (1) submit to a mental health evaluation, to be performed by a mental health professional of her choice, for a complete emotional, behavioral, and if necessary physical assessment; (2) fully cooperate in the mental health evaluation and comply with the recommended course of treatment, if any; and (3) if reinstated to the practice of law, submit to the supervision of a monitor to be appointed by relator upon reinstatement. Further, in addition to the requirements of Gov.Bar R. V(10), respondent shall, upon any application for reinstatement, provide a report from the evaluating mental health professional as to her current medical condition, including any reason for which she should not be readmitted to the practice of law.

{¶ 56} In so holding, we recognize the important role that judges play in society and their concomitant duty to act in an ethical manner:

{¶ 57} “Because they are so important to our society, judges must be competent and ethical, and their actions must foster respect for their decisions as well as for the judiciary as a whole. Given that they hold positions of considerable authority and are entrusted with a great deal of power and discretion, judges are expected to conduct themselves according to high standards of professional conduct. Indeed, it is often said that judges are subject to the highest standards of professional behavior. Judges are held to higher standards of integrity and ethical conduct than attorneys or other persons not invested with the public trust. * * *

{¶ 58} “Judges should exercise their judicial functions with integrity, impartiality, and independence. They should perform their work with a high degree of competence, and should treat litigants, witnesses, attorneys, and others who appear before them with courtesy and respect. * * * In sum, they should inspire trust and confidence, and should bring honor to the judiciary.” See Shaman, Lubet & Alfini, Judicial Conduct and Ethics, supra, at 1-2.

{¶ 59} With the foregoing sanction, we hope that respondent can learn to accord judges, lawyers, litigants, court employees, and the public the service, honesty, courtesy, and respect to which they are entitled and thereby once again earn the public trust that the judiciary should command.

{¶ 60} Costs are taxed to respondent.

Judgment accordingly.

Moyer, C.J., F.E. Sweeney, Winkler, O’Connor and O’Donnell, JJ., concur.

Resnick and Pfeifer, JJ., concur in judgment only.

Ralph Winkler, J., of the First Appellate District, sitting for Lundberg Stratton, J.

. An Alford plea is one that permits a defendant, with appropriate constitutional safeguards, to plead guilty to a charge while maintaining his or her innocence. N. Carolina v. Alford (1970), 400 U.S. 25, 91 S.Ct. 160, 27 L.Ed.2d 162. See, also, In re Kirby, 101 Ohio St.3d 312, 2004-Ohio-970, 804 N.E.2d 476, ¶ 3.

Alice Robie Resnick, J.,

concurring in judgment only.

{¶ 61} I reluctantly concur in judgment only. Like the panel member who dissented from the panel’s opinion, I view the allegations of Count V as the heart of this case. I believe that not all of the incidents detailed in the majority opinion’s discussion of the other counts have been proven by clear and convincing evidence to constitute violations in their own right. However, unlike the dissenting panel member, I am unable to totally overlook all of the evidence supporting the other counts, particularly Count I, on which the majority has found disciplinary violations. I find, however, that Counts II and III have not been proven by clear and convincing evidence.

{¶ 62} The majority opinion has, except for a very brief mention, ignored the significant political aspects underlying the grievances that were filed against respondent. As the panel dissenter recognized, respondent’s viewpoint that the complaints against her were politically motivated is supported by “substantial evidence” in the record. To a certain extent, some of the actions of respondent discussed in the majority opinion seem sufficiently open to question that some amount of piling on appears to be occurring, in that specific alleged instances of misconduct that would not normally themselves be the basis for charges are being used to bolster unrelated charges based on other events to further the overall case against respondent.

{¶ 63} Furthermore, as the panel dissenter recognized, some of the witnesses who testified against respondent, particularly as to Count IV and her interaction with other court personnel, appear to have “had their own agendas which compromised their credibility.” It is evident that political and personal considerations that cannot be entirely disregarded permeate this case. Moreover, these charges should have been brought in a timelier manner. Some of the alleged behavior occurred as far back as 1997.

{¶ 64} Nevertheless, the record contains enough evidence of disciplinary violations beyond Count V that I believe an actual suspension from the practice of law is warranted. Like the majority, I believe that the board’s recommendation of a full two-year suspension is inappropriate, based on a consideration of the entire record. Consistent with that view, relator’s vigorous advocacy that respondent should be disbarred strikes me as so disproportionate to the magnitude of respondent’s actions that it is unjustifiable.

{¶ 65} I believe that after all factors are weighed, a lesser sanction than that imposed by the majority opinion would be supportable, such as a two-year suspension with 18 months stayed. That sanction would not take away respondent’s ability to earn a livelihood but would still provide her an opportunity to obtain counseling and to further develop the qualities that would allow her to continue to be an asset to the judiciary and bar. Respondent has been twice elected to the common pleas bench by the voters of Franklin County. It seems strange to me that we often show more compassion to attorneys and judges who break the law than we seem to be showing here.

{¶ 66} However, particularly because I believe that Count V is a serious infraction, I believe that respondent should be suspended for two years with the second year stayed upon conditions. I am hopeful that, with the satisfaction of those conditions, respondent can return as a valued member of the legal profession after serving the first year of her suspension.

Pfeifer, J.,

concurring in judgment only.

{¶ 67} I concur in judgment only because I have several concerns about this case. Judge Puffenberger’s dissent from the report and recommendation of the board so well articulates my concerns that I herein incorporate his entire dissent, except for his recommended sanction.

{¶ 68} “The extensive allegations presented in this complaint are far reaching in substance and, in many instances, require Respondent to justify judicial determinations made many years before. This Board must be cautious not to infringe upon areas of our legal system wherein our judiciary has traditionally been granted extensive discretion in making judicial determinations. Inappropriate actions of one member of the judiciary must not be sanctioned in a manner that would have a ‘chilling effect’ on judges who may sometimes utilize methods which may be perceived as ‘unconventional’. Judges are constantly making split second decisions in the courtroom and sometimes their motives for making these determinations can be placed in question. Our legal system has acknowledged this and provides proper avenues of recourse outside the disciplinary process. To require our judges to be placed under oath in a disciplinary setting and explain why a judicial determination was made is foreign to our legal system. In situations where the judicial determination was made years earlier, that task of explaining why the decision was made can be nearly impossible.

{¶ 69} “While it is not my intention to review the panel report case by case, I will generally address each of the counts in the Amended Complaint and conclude by formulating a more generalized dissent to both the findings and the recommendation.

{¶ 70} “In reviewing each of the Counts in the Amended Complaint, the Board must apply the standard of whether the violations have been proven by clear and convincing evidence. This is a high standard to meet and is more than a simple preponderance of the evidence.

{¶ 71} “In Count I, the panel report finds that Respondent engaged in ex parte communications. In Nezvalova, Disciplinary Counsel clearly failed to establish that the conversations were ex parte in nature. No one gained a procedural or tactical advantage as a result of the conversation which was administrative in nature. Two distinguished judges, Judge Corzine and Judge Parrott, testified that this was not an ex parte conversation. Likewise, the conversation in Smiley was administrative in nature and Judges Corzine, Parrott and former Judge Tracey testified that conversations such as this are not uncommon. Certainly the clear and convincing standard was not met to establish that any ex parte communications even occurred unless one were to totally disbelieve the testimony of not only Judge O’Neill, but also the testimony of Judge Corzine, Judge Parrot[t] and former Judge Tracey. Moreover, the Smiley case was not a pending case and the conversation did not involve the merits of the case. Absolutely no one was prejudiced by these conversations and they do not fall within the realm of sanctionable conversations. That portion of Count I relating to ex parte communications is without merit and must be dismissed.

{¶ 72} “Count II alleges that Respondent refused to allow attorneys to go on the record. In 1998, the local rules of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court did not require pretrials to be on the record. The allegation that Attorney Swartz was denied the opportunity to go on the record during a pretrial was readily admitted by Respondent in her letter to the Chief Justice on September 10, 1998. (Ex. ON 01507) Respondent explained to the Chief Justice that she, ‘denied Mr. Swartz’ request to put the bench conference on the record as I did not find it necessary to record my denial of his request for a continuance.’ This denial was not even found to be sufficient for the granting of an Affidavit of Disqualification by the Chief Justice, much less a disciplinary violation. In both Dennis and Lane the allegations of failure to allow a record occurred in pretrial settings. Both Judge Parrot[t] and former Judge and now Professor Tracey testified that the preferred method of making a record is not to disrupt the schedule in order to make a record whenever one is demanded, but to wait until such time as there is an actual court hearing. In fact, Attorney Swartz testified that a written motion would have been the proper way to make a record for the motion for continuance. The allegations in Count II have not been established by clear and convincing evidence and must be dismissed.

{¶ 73} “Count III consists of allegations that Respondent denied continuances without exercising judicial discretion. The granting or denial of requests for continuance should not be the subject of disciplinary actions. The law adequately provides recourse to the parties in these situations.

{¶ 74} “Count IY relates to alleged misrepresentations Respondent made in her interactions with lawyers, judges and court personnel. While there is certainly variation in the recollection of parties to the same incidents, it must be remembered that these incidents occurred years ago and it is common for people to have different perceptions of an incident after the passage of time. The panel report takes great umbrage to the fact that Respondent denied the allegations against her and her recollection of incidents was often times different from those of other witnesses. This does not mean that Respondent was necessarily lying or being deceitful. It means that she had a different perception of certain encounters. In addition, her answer to the complaint seems to contain responses in conflict with her own testimony at hearing. The panel was made aware that the answer was prepared prior to any formal discovery and that Respondent answered the complaint utilizing her best recollection at the time. Those familiar with legal proceedings are quite aware that recollection can be refreshed once the witness is afforded an opportunity to review documents relative to an incident. This is especially true when the incident occurred years prior. The finding of a violation for merely denying the allegations and having a different perception of what transpired from that of her accusers is totally unfair. In addition, it is not difficult to find that a number of witnesses who testified as to Count IV had their own agendas which compromised their credibility. Once again, the burden of clear and convincing evidence has not been met in these allegations.

{¶ 75} “While Disciplinary Counsel has attempted to demonstrate a ‘pattern’ of inappropriate behavior by Respondent, the allegation of a violation in Count VI is totally unrelated to any other count in that it concerns activity that occurred outside the courthouse setting. The Panel report finds a solitary violation related to a campaign conversation Respondent had with an individual who was still technically her employee even though the individual had already tendered her employment resignation. It is exactly this type of remote violation that the Preamble to the Code of Judicial Conduct envisioned when it states: ‘It is not intended, however, that every transgression will result in disciplinary action.’ This single technical violation of the campaign solicitation canon by a judge who has been involved in several contested elections does not demonstrate a ‘pattern’ of campaign violations and should be dismissed in conformity with the spirit of the Preamble.

{¶ 76} “Counts I, II and III generally relate to matters within the discretion of the trial judge which this Board should not allow the disciplinary procedure to substitute for the Courts of appeals and Counts IV and VI have been addressed above. However, Count V of the Amended Complaint is much more problematic for Respondent. In fact, it goes to the very crux of this dissent. Count V relates to Respondent’s interaction with lawyers, judges and court staff. Herein lies the one true, glaring basis for the entire Amended Complaint: the judicial temperament of Respondent. This is the underlying theme of the entire complaint. All of the allegations, with the exception of the alleged campaign violation, relate in one way or another to the judicial temperament of Respondent. Judicial temperament includes common sense, compassion, humility, open-mindedness, patience, tact and understanding. It is a quality that can best be identified when it is absent. The absence of judicial temperament generally exhibits itself in many ways including arrogance, impatience, pomposity, loquacity, irascibility, arbitrariness or tyranny. Unfortunately, the absence of judicial temperament by Respondent exhibited itself far too often during the hearing of this matter. Wdiile all judges have ‘bad days’ even this dissenter believes that Disciplinary Counsel has established a pattern of behavior by Respondent that exceeds the acceptable bounds of what must be demanded of the judiciary. I therefore agree that, in Count V, Disciplinary Counsel has established a violation of Canon 1 and Canon 3(B)(4) of the Code of Judicial Conduct which must be sanctioned.

{¶ 77} “The panel report regarding aggravation, mitigation and recommended sanction underscores the temptation to be swept up in the sheer magnitude of the evidence presented. Every possible aggravating circumstance is mentioned and testimony was molded to justify the severe sanction recommended. The panel heard many witnesses, reviewed many exhibits and considered an incredible number of incidents alleging numerous violations. The volume of evidence should not be used as a justification to take drastic action. A reasoned approach to this matter is consistent with the above argument. This is a case about a judge who lacks judicial temperament, nothing more, nothing less. After all of the detailed analysis of each specific case and every shred of evidence that could be solicited over a number of years, we are left with the ultimate conclusion: this is a judge who has a number of good qualities but judicial temperament is not one of them. Her behavior warrants action.

{¶ 78} “In considering a recommended sanction, the panel report discards each of Respondent’s defenses. One of Respondent’s defenses was that the complaints were politically motivated. Certainly, politics did not force Respondent to behave the way she did at times. However, to totally discard this factor one would have to ignore substantial evidence to the contrary. One witness, Sherry Mitchell, [a] former employee of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, who left for a better employment opportunity, seemed to be one of the few impartial witnesses on this topic. She described the Court as a ‘political, back-biting environment’ and that decisions by court administration were ‘rarely based on fact’ but rather were ‘made on personal agenda, who knew who and politics.’ She testified as to the ‘self-serving, malicious environment.’ One judge openly made derogatory comments about Respondent to courthouse staff. (TR 17/22) Having served on a multi-judge court, I do not discard this issue as easily as the other panel members. The atmosphere which seems to pervade this Court has Respondent at the center, but there are other parties who seem to relish throwing gasoline on the fire. The scene of one of the complainant judges on her hands and knees writing an antagonistic remark with chalk on Respondent’s parking spot would be comical if not so tragic. Some who claim that Respondent brings disrespect to that Court should consider the atmosphere they have helped foster. It must be clearly stated once again that Respondent cannot utilize this atmosphere as justification for her actions, but to ignore it is to provide only a partial picture of reality. The panel report’s reference to a prior disciplinary action that was dismissed is prejudicial and should be removed.

{¶ 79} “The panel report reference to Respondent’s refusal to acknowledge the wrongful nature of her conduct as a significant aggravating factor is not born[e] out by her testimony. Respondent did testify that in some instances she should have handled things differently. She acknowledged that some mistakes were made. The fact that she denies the allegations is not evidence of anything. To chastise her for denying the allegations and mounting a vigorous defense should not be an aggravating factor since many of the counts are without basis.

{¶ 80} “The panel report further considers the criminal litigants to be victims of Respondent’s actions. All of these individuals had recourse in the law for perceived violations of their due process rights. These individuals do not have a ‘right’ to probation or a presentence investigation if the judge determines that probation is not going to be granted. Competent counsel protects your due process rights within the law. That is their function. These criminal defendants were not denied their right to go to trial. These instances cannot stand alone on their merits as violations and certainly cannot be considered as a pattern of how Respondent handles criminal cases. Since 1992, she has presided over hundreds, if not thousands, of criminal cases and to allege that these several cases demonstrate a ‘pattern’ is stretching beyond the limits of reasonableness.

{¶ 81} “The panel report finding that Respondent was motivated by a selfish motive lacks justification. Respondent did not personally gain from her actions in any way. To insinuate that her personal motive was to have a manageable caseload is to ignore pressures put on trial judges to keep the docket current. The Supreme Court initiated the case reporting requirements to insure the timely resolution of cases. Once again, the few cases mentioned in the Amended Complaint certainly do not establish a pattern that docket control was more important to respondent than the rights of the parties. The testimony established the Respondent did grant continuance requests when she felt they were merited. A clear and convincing pattern is not established by such a min[u]scule percentage of cases handled.

{¶ 82} “In conclusion, the bases for the panel report sanction recommendation have not been established by clear and convincing evidence. It has not been established that Respondent acted with dishonesty. A pattern of conduct was not established except as it relates to intemperate behavior. Any resulting harm from Respondent[’]s decisions was minimal and could have been reviewed by a higher court. Respondent was responsible for her part in the effect on the public esteem for the integrity of the judiciary. Others are also to blame.

{¶ 83} “At the end of the day, the question is what to do with a judge who lacks judicial temperament. Should she effectively be removed from office even though the citizens of Franklin County want her to be their judge? Should the citizens of Franklin County have the right to a judge who lacks judicial temperament if they want one?

{¶ 84} “Respondent has a problem that is affecting her ability to be a better judge. For some time the legal profession has sought to render assistance to members who experience problems. The OLAP program of the Ohio S[t]ate Bar Association is one example of a profession striving to assist colleagues who are experiencing personal problems. I believe that the panel unanimously agrees that Respondent is in need of professional assistance in helping her attain a better judicial temperament on a more consistent basis. Her situation is not hopeless. The testimony regarding her temperament was not all one-sided. A number of witnesses, including a former Board member, testified as to very positive experiences in her courtroom. Unfortunately, her past behavior toward others in the legal system has contributed to the dislike some individuals seem to have for her. Sometimes she is not an easy person to like. She is demanding. She is strong-willed. She can and has displayed some very negative emotions in the courthouse. It is my belief that the Board has several responsibilities in this matter. The Board must not get caught up in the negative media frenzy that has followed Respondent for some time. The Board must not look at the sheer volume of the evidence presented and think that severe punishment must be justified. Above all, the Board has a responsibility to try to assist this individual in dealing with her imperfections at the same time that she is sanctioned. Any sanction by this Board is a severe sanction for Respondent. The publicity of a sanction against a sitting judge for lack of proper judicial temperament will be a severe punishment in itself. The cost of her defense in this matter will be astronomical. The mitigating factors contained in the panel report are substantial and aggravating factors are minimal at best. This Board should strive to fashion a sanction that is not overly punitive, but addresses the true violation of Respondent: her temperament.”

{¶ 85} One additional note: I am concerned that Disciplinary Counsel in this case developed a strong animus against Judge O’Neill. During oral argument, counsel repeatedly called Judge O’Neill a liar. As with the rest of her problems, much of this one was her own doing; many of her explanations do not bear up under scrutiny. Many other “lies,” however, are simply disputes about events that occurred in the past, sometimes years in the past. Disciplinary Counsel appears in this case not to differentiate among legitimate differences of recollection, inadvertent misrepresentations, and deliberate misrepresentations.

{¶ 86} Disciplinary Counsel sought disbarment of Judge O’Neill, a remarkable instance of overcharging — to the best of my knowledge, no sitting judge has ever been disbarred in this country. He continued to seek this sanction despite the recommendation of the panel that heard the case and against the recommendation of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline.

{¶ 87} Finally, because of the multitude of minor charges that counsel chose to present to the panel, the he