Suspension Proposed For Ohio Judge

Cleveland.com covers on a recent report and recommendation involving misconduct allegations against a Cleveland judge

The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct has recommended a two-year suspension, one year stayed, for Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze, citing a pattern of misconduct that spanned several high-profile divorce cases in Cuyahoga County.

The board’s 30-page report, filed Friday, outlines a troubling narrative of favoritism, improper case assignments, undisclosed personal relationships and false statements made during the disciplinary process. Celebrezze, who has served as a judge in the domestic relations division of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, is accused of violating 15 separate rules of judicial and professional conduct, the report says.

Celebrezze has not issued a public statement directly addressing the disciplinary board’s findings or the recommendation for her suspension.

Improper relationship with court-appointed receiver

At the heart of the investigation is Celebrezze’s relationship with Mark Dottore, a court-appointed receiver who was involved in several cases presided over by the judge, according to the report. The board found that Celebrezze approved more than $400,000 in fees to Dottore and his legal counsel in a contentious divorce case, involving Strongsville funeral home owners Jason and Crystal Jardine, without disclosing their longstanding personal relationship.

Surveillance footage commissioned by one of the litigants revealed frequent private meetings between Celebrezze and Dottore, including a kiss outside a restaurant and several visits to each other’s homes and offices, the report says. Though Celebrezze initially denied any romantic involvement, she later admitted to having deep emotional feelings for Dottore and had consulted attorneys about divorcing her husband, the report also reveal

The board concluded that the nature of their relationship, whether romantic or not, created an appearance of impropriety that undermined public confidence in the judiciary.

Manipulation of case assignments

Celebreeze was also found to have manipulated the assignment of several cases to her own docket, bypassing the required random reassignment process that follows a judge’s recusal. In several divorce cases, Celebrezze either directed assignments to herself or signed entries falsely stating the cases had been randomly assigned, the report says.

In another case, Celebrezze is accused of pressuring Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Judge Colleen Reali to transfer the case to her, suggesting that doing so could influence the outcome of a writ of mandamus filed against Reali. She falsely claimed that a motion to continue had been filed on a non-existent “administrative docket,” and attempted to override Reali’s authority, according to the report.

The board described the actions as a “dishonest or selfish motive,” noting that Celebrezze’s behavior was not only improper but also deceptive.

False statements and lack of disclosure

Celebrezze’s conduct during the disciplinary investigation further compounded the violations, according to the board. The report says she made false statements about her relationship with Dottore and failed to disclose her interactions with attorneys involved in the cases she presided over. Notably, she referred to attorney Robert Glickman, who represented a party in a divorce case, as her personal lawyer, yet did not recuse herself or disclose the relationship.

The board emphasized that judges are held to the highest standards of integrity and impartiality, and that Celebrezze’s actions eroded public trust in the legal system.

Aggravating and mitigating factors

While Celebrezze has no prior disciplinary history and submitted letters attesting to her good character, the board found several aggravating factors:

• A pattern of misconduct across four cases over two years
• Multiple offenses, including 15 rule violations
• False statements during the investigation
• A dishonest or selfish motive in concealing her relationship with Dottore

What Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze’s attorneys have said

Attorneys Monica A. Sansalone and Matthew T. Norman, who lead her legal team, have pushed back against the accusations of judicial misconduct, arguing that Celebrezze acted in good faith and did not intend to deceive or manipulate the judicial process.

In response to the disciplinary investigation, her attorneys maintained that Celebrezze believed she had the authority to reassign cases as the administrative judge, a practice they claim had been routinely exercised by her predecessors. They also emphasized that Celebrezze did not financially benefit from any of the cases in question and that her decisions were made to assist colleagues and manage caseloads efficiently.

Regarding her relationship with Dottore, Celebrezze’s attorneys described the connection in court documents as a “close personal” friendship. They denied any romantic involvement.

Her legal team also dismissed claims that Celebrezze’s conduct was driven by personal gain or favoritism, asserting that her rulings were based on legal merit and not influenced by personal relationships. Despite the board’s findings, her attorneys have argued that Celebrezze’s cooperation and lack of prior violations should weigh heavily in her favor.

Recommendation and next steps

The Board of Professional Conduct unanimously recommended that Celebrezze be suspended from the practice of law for two years, with one year stayed on the condition that she commits no further misconduct and pays the costs of the proceedings, according to the report.

The final decision is now with the Ohio Supreme Court, which will review the board’s findings and determine whether to impose the recommended sanction.