Disciplinary Counsel v. Carr

Summary

The Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Judge Pinkey Suzanne Carr from the practice of law for multiple violations of the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct and Rules of Professional Conduct. The court also immediately suspended her from judicial office without pay for the duration of the disciplinary suspension, based on misconduct including improper capias warrants, ex parte communications, arbitrary dispositions, misuse of bonds to compel payment, lack of courtroom decorum, abuse of contempt power, and failure to recuse.

Holdings

1. The board applied the proper standard under Gov.Bar R. V(13)(C)(7); a respondent must establish a causal nexus showing that the mental disorder contributed to cause the misconduct, along with the rule's other requirements.
2. Carr failed to establish that her diagnosed mental disorders contributed to cause her misconduct, so the disorders were properly rejected as a mitigating factor.
3. Carr's extensive, repeated, dishonest, and harmful misconduct warranted an indefinite suspension from the practice of law rather than the board's recommended two-year suspension.
4. Carr was immediately suspended from judicial office without pay for the duration of her disciplinary suspension.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the board applied the correct legal standard in evaluating Carr's diagnosed mental disorders as a mitigating factor.
2. Whether the evidence established that Carr's mental disorders contributed to cause her misconduct and therefore warranted mitigating effect.
3. Whether the board's recommended two-year suspension with no stay was an appropriate sanction for Carr's extensive judicial and professional misconduct.
4. Whether Carr should be immediately suspended from judicial office without pay during the disciplinary suspension.

Disposition

other