Cleveland judge withdraws from 88 inherited cases

CLEVELAND (AP) — A Cleveland judge has stepped aside from hearing 88 divorce cases formerly handled by her retiring father, also a judge.

Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze of Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court acted after the Ohio Supreme Court directed her to disqualify herself from one case she took over when she replaced her father. The high court cited a rule designed to prevent potential bias.

Judge Celebrezze’s fellow judges agreed last week to divide up 88 of her inherited cases.

She says withdrawing from all cases handled by her father harms justice and court efficiency.