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“A Fantastic Job”

By Michael Frisch

WBNS 10 reports on a recent recommendation of the Ohio Board on Professional Conduct

 A former Franklin County judge who has been suspended since 2019 for sexually harassing female employees, misusing county resources and other issues could soon practice law again.

The Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Conduct is recommending that Judge Timothy Horton be reinstated.

In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled Horton committed multiple violations of four provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct and two provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

According to the board’s report, Horton and the disciplinary counsel met in December 2022. During the meeting, the report states that Horton did not realize he had a problem with alcohol until 2014 or 2015, which is when he sought help through Alcoholics Anonymous.
 
In 2018, Horton’s AA sponsor offered him a position as an HR director at a company in Delaware County. The sponsor told the counsel that Horton has done a “fantastic job” and there have been no sexual harassment incidents.
 
The report also states that Horton has met with the clinical director and executive director of the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program. The directors are “completely satisfied that he [Horton] is staying sober, going to AA meetings, and working the program,” according to the report.

In addition to the AA meetings, Horton has been meeting with a doctor and is focusing on other issues other than drinking. The doctor states Horton has made “significant improvements in many areas of his life.”

The panel’s recommendation now goes to the Ohio Supreme Court to decide if Horton will be reinstated.

Horton would have to meet several conditions before his suspension was lifted, including he keeps attending AA meetings and completing three additional hours of legal education on sexual harassment.

(Mike Frisch)

Posted in:
Bar Discipline & Process