Ohio Hears Judicial Misconduct Case

An oral argument scheduled tomorrow before the Ohio Supreme Court

2022-1515 DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL,

Relator, Joseph M. Caligiuri, Matthew A. Kanai, Columbus. Representing Disciplinary Counsel.

v. HON. DANIEL GAUL,
Respondent. Gallagher Sharp, Monica A. Sansalone, Shane A. Lawson, Cleveland. Representing Hon. Daniel Gaul

Cleveland Scene reported on the recommended sanction

On December 9th [2022], about a year after a complaint was filed against him, the Board of Professional Conduct in a 63-page report recommended that the Ohio Supreme Court remove Gaul from the bench and suspend his law license for one year for violating a host of judicial rules of code and conduct.

Cleveland.com covered the hearing on the allegations of misconduct

The fate of longtime Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Daniel Gaul is being considered by a three-commissioner panel after an eight-hour hearing Tuesday about the Democratic jurist’s courtroom conduct.

Gaul, who is white, allegedly referred to Black men who appeared in his courtroom as “brother;” called a woman in a relationship with a man getting a divorce a “mistress;” and offered plea deals to criminal defendants even though he’s not a prosecutor, among other charges.

Tuesday’s hearing was in response to a complaint filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, a division in Ohio’s judiciary branch that pursues allegations of misconduct against lawyers and judges. Gaul, who has spent nearly 32 years on the bench, is accused of misconduct and violating the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct and Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct.

Some of Gaul’s courtroom actions were featured in an episode during the third season of the Serial podcast, which focused on the criminal justice system in Cuyahoga County.

The docket entries are linked here. (Mike Frisch)