“Your Favorite Judge”

The Ohio Supreme Court has permanently disbarred a judge convicted of mail fraud.

The report of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline had this snippet of the evidence of a conversation with a litigant

Frank Russo: Hello.

Respondent: Frank, your favorite Judge.

Frank Russo: Hey, Stevie, how are you?

Respondent: I’m doing well, how are you?

Frank Russo: I’m doing really, really, really good …

Respondent: … Hey Renee called and said you wanted me to call you?

Frank Russo: Yeah, I just wanted to let you know. Did Robin give you those case numbers?

Respondent: Yes.

Frank Russo: OK. In other words, I talked to you about this once before, it’s about denying the motions for summary judgment.

Respondent: Yep. I still have the note that you gave me.

Frank Russo: OK. Good. Deny the motions for summary judgment. Good.

Respondent: Got it.

 Frank Russo: Ok, good. No that was all, I just wanted to touch base with
you on that, and that’s it …

 He was convicted of, among other things, accepting gifts from Russo.

The Board

the Board voted to modify the sanction recommended by the hearing panel and recommends that Respondent, Steven James Terry, be permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio.

The court agreed.

Cleveland.com had the story of the criminal trial. (Mike Frisch)