Ticket-Fixing Judge Reinstated In Ohio

The Columbus Dispatch has a story of a judge’s reinstatement to the Ohio Bar.

Former Franklin County Judge Harland H. Hale’s license to practice law was reinstated today by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Hale’s license was suspended in 2014 for six months for fixing a speeding ticket for a fellow lawyer and for attempting to cover up his action. He did not seek reinstatement until June this year. The court approved the reinstatement today.

Justices voted 5-2 in Nov. 2014 to suspend the license of the former environmental court judge who occasionally was assigned to municipal court to handle traffic cases.

The court first rejected a recommendation by the disciplinary counsel that six months was too lenient a suspension, but later accepted the same sentence, with Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger dissenting that it was not harsh enough.

Hale admitted improperly dismissing a 2011 speeding ticket issued to Patrick M. Quinn, a lawyer whose firm was defending Hale in a sexual-harassment case, later settled out of court. Hale also falsified a court entry stating that the prosecutor had dismissed the ticket. Quinn pleaded guilty to speeding and paid $171 in fines and costs.

The Dispatch revealed that Hale fixed the speeding ticket. Hale resigned from the court, but still wants to practice law.

The court cited Hale for “serious violations of his ethical duties as both an attorney and judge” as well as “efforts to cover his tracks.”

Earlier coverage from the Columbus Dispatch.

Former Franklin County Environmental Court Judge Harland Hale argues he already has paid a big price for fixing a speeding ticket.

The ex-judge shed tears yesterday as he talked about resigning on May 24 in response to a charge that he dismissed a ticket issued to a lawyer whose firm was defending Hale against sexual-harassment lawsuits.

He talked of losing his seat on the bench and his fear of what the epitaph on his grave marker might read, of disappointing dirt-poor parents who only ever asked that he do what was right.

The Ohio Supreme Court order is linked here. (Mike Frisch)