The Ohio Supreme Court issued an order today that Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Tracie M. Hunter is disqualified from acting as a judge because of her eight-count felony indictment.

Judge Hunter was indicted by a grand jury today for two third-degree felony counts of tampering with evidence, two fifth-degree felony counts of forgery, two fifth-degree felony counts of theft in office, and two fourth-degree felony counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract.

Gov.Jud.R. III (6)(A) of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary in Ohio states: “A Justice or judge is disqualified from acting as a Justice or judge while there is pending an indictment or an information charging the Justice or judge with a crime punishable as a felony under state or federal law.”

In the order signed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, it notes that “it is further ordered that she shall remain disqualified while any and all indictments filed in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas are pending and until further order of this court.”

Copies of the order were sent to Judge Hunter, the other sitting judge of the juvenile court, the court’s administrator, and the county’s fiscal officer.

Section III (Disability Retirement, Removal, or Suspension of Judges) of the rules is available on the Supreme Court's website.

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