The Ohio Supreme Court issued an order today that Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Lance T. Mason is disqualified from acting as a judge because of a five-count felony indictment.

Judge Mason was indicted today by a grand jury for two first-degree felony counts of kidnapping and three second-degree felony counts of felonious assault.

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 he shall remain disqualified while any and all indictments filed in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas are pending and until further order of this court.”

Copies of the order were sent to Judge Mason, the presiding judge of the court, and the court’s administrator.

Access Section III (Disability Retirement, Removal, or Suspension of Judges) of the rules.

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