Judge Jim Mason (R)

Why do the Disciplinary Rules and Code of Judicial Conduct NOT apply to Judge Mason?

Judge Mason's Violations

Viewing the timeline of events below will reveal that Judge Jim Mason was on a clear mission to shut down Squire from the outset of his becoming Administrative Judge.

01/2003 - Judge Mason's term as Administrative Judge begins

03/2003 - Despite the fact that Judge Mason had no supervisory authority over Squire, Mason summoned Squire to his chambers in mid-March concerning an oral complaint he received from an attorney representing a litigant in a case before Squire.  Upon Squire meeting with Mason in his chambers, he proceeded to tell Squire how she should handle her case, without first inquiring of Squire the facts of the case.  Squire responded to Mason asking, “what kind of judge are you to render judgment without the facts or speaking with all parties?” 

CARDINAL SIN #1:  NEVER BURST THE EGO OF JUDGE JIM MASON.

09/23/2003 - Judge Mason tries to undermine Squire’s authority to manage her own cases.  Evidence of Mason's pattern and practice of disrespect and undermining of Judge Squire.

10/01/2003 -  Judge Mason sends e-mail to Assignment Commissioner Cinda Nichols, without communicating with Judge Squire, directing Cinda to not set Judge Squire's juvenile cases pursuant to Judge Squire's instruction.

11/21/2003 - Judge Squire letter to Cinda Nichols concerning Mason's interference with case scheduling issues.

Mason's interference in the Allison v. Patterson case in late October and November 2003 is the last straw for Squire due to the fact that parents who'd come to the court concerning two cases involving allegedly severely abused children (a preschooler the subject of the Martin v. Grant case and a teenager the subject of the Cortledge case) were not sufficiently heard by Squire due to Judge Mason's continued disruption and interference.

03/17/2004 -  Attorney Pomerants, who complained to Mason  concerning Judge Squire's handling of the Johnson v. Johnson divorce, filed an Affidavit of Disqualification against Judge Squire, without the knowledge or support of his own client.

Frustrated with Mason's lack of response to several requests by Squire to stop undermining her judicial service, as well as the hostile political climate at the court since her election to the bench, Squire informs the Chief Justice of her fellow judges' interference with her attempts to protect abused children.  

08/27/2004 -  Judge Squire sends letter to Chief Justice Thomas Moyer detailing interference with the administration of justice in her courtroom by Republican judges in the Domestic Relations court.

09/2004 - During the last week of September, Judge Squire telephones Chief Justice Moyer's office to inquire of her 08/27/2004 letter as she had received no acknowledgement or response.

10/2004 - Office of Disciplinary Counsel dismisses Attorney Pomerants’ grievance against Squire.

10/2004 - A grievance is filed with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel against Judge Squire, curiously, with no complaining party named.

11/8/2004 - Attorney Pomerants is not quite finished.  Pomerants files a merit less grievance against Judge Squire's Bailiff, Angel Hall.

Mr. Pomerants's untruthful version of what transpired in Judge Squire's courtroom during the Johnson hearing was refuted by several eyewitnesses, including Mr. Pomerants' own client.

While the Disciplinary Counsel dismissed Pomerant's grievance against Judge Squire in October 2004, they knowingly used false allegations to discredit Judge Squire by publishing Pomerants' allegations in the May 16, 2005 Ohio State Bar Association Report, VOL.78 #20 and disseminated to approximately 3,000 lawyers who subscribe to the Report.

Prominently positioned at the top of the list of eleven disqualifications involving eleven different Ohio judges, is Squire in bold print. A review of the eleven disqualifications makes clear that different standards were applied to the Disqualification of Squire than were applied to the cases involving the other ten judges against whom Affidavits of disqualifications had been filed. 

The Chief Justice ordered Judge Squire not to hear the Johnson case even though the evidence clearly established Pomerants was out of control and abusing the process.  On the other hand, nine of the other Judges featured in the publication were not ordered off their cases (a review of the 11 subject affidavits evidences clear bias against Judge Squire).

7/14/2005 - Judge Jim Mason is at it again but has no excuse for his unethical behavior.