Cox tells panel of addiction to gambling

Gambling started at an early age for the former judge, and he was good at it. But then his luck went south, he said.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Edward A. Cox's casual interest in gambling intensified in the 1990s, leading to a nearly insatiable habit, the former appeals court judge testified.
"It stopped being a hobby and became an addiction," Cox said Friday before Ohio's Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline.
The panel is considering allegations filed by the Ohio Supreme Court's disciplinary counsel that Cox, a former judge on the 7th District Court of Appeals in Youngstown, borrowed money from lawyers who practiced before the appeals court and used the proceeds to feed a gambling addiction.
Began early: Cox, who spent a half-hour testifying before the panel, said gambling started at an early age for him.
"I've been a horse better all my life," Cox said.
Cox told the panel that he and others would travel to some of horse racing's biggest events: the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders Cup.
"I was good at it," Cox said. "Most of the time I was successful. "The gambling intensified in the 1990s with trips to off-track betting parlors, Cox said.
"It was an escape," Cox said.
Cox's luck turned sour and the former judge said he ended up having to ask former attorney Richard D. Goldberg for a loan, Cox testified.
According to sworn statements, Cox received a $20,000 loan from Goldberg in February 1998. Things were bad financially, Cox said.
"All the credit cards were due. I was trying to bail out," he said.
As part of a proposed deal with disciplinary counsel lawyers, Cox is admitting three counts of misconduct connected to the money and loans.
In exchange, disciplinary counsel lawyers propose that Cox be suspended from the practice of law for 24 months, 12 months stayed, and that Cox get counseling for gambling addiction. Counsel lawyers also propose to dismiss one count of misconduct.
They said they uncovered no evidence that the money influenced the judge's decision-making.
Advice to come: A recommendation from the panel to the full board is pending. Panel chairman Dana Deshler, a judge from the 10th District Court of Appeals, said he expected a recommendation to the full board by early next year.
Even though lawyers for Cox and the state have reached an agreement, the panel's recommendation could differ. Ultimately, the Ohio Supreme Court has the final say on attorney and judicial discipline.
According to board documents, sometime in late 1998 or 1999 Cox referred Margaret Linton, who needed a lawyer for a personal injury matter, to lawyer Stuart Banks.
Around March 12, 1999, Cox and Banks met in a Youngstown restaurant, board documents say.
Banks, who was wearing a wire for the FBI, reportedly gave Cox $400 in cash. According to documents, Banks believed he was paying the former judge for the referral while Cox contended the money was for unrelated matters.
Cox used the money to gamble, according to board records.
No payments: According to records, Cox also solicited the loan from Goldberg sometime before February 1998. After that, Cox allegedly received at least $27,500 in loans from Goldberg and hasn't made any payments on them, board records show.
The alleged loans also didn't show up on any of the judge's financial disclosure forms until 2000, according to board documents.
Cox also is admitting borrowing various amounts of money from lawyers, typically ranging from $100 to $500 for gambling, board documents say. All of the lawyers named had practiced before Judge Cox.
Cox was defeated last November as Judge of the 7th District Court of Appeals.