Trial begins for judge accused of forgery

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

A prosecutor on Wednesday depicted an Ohio juvenile court judge accused of misusing county credit cards and backdating court documents as a systematic lawbreaker, while a defense attorney argued that the charges are politically motivated.

Jurors heard opening statements in Judge Tracie Hunter’s trial in county court in Cincinnati. Hunter earlier pleaded not guilty to felony charges, including tampering with evidence, forgery and theft in office.

The special prosecutor, R. Scott Croswell III, spent over two hours describing how Hunter allegedly backdated court documents and misused a county credit card issued by the juvenile court. He said she used the card to pay for legal filings in a lawsuit against her, taking $1,100 in taxpayer money.

“That is a crime,” he said.

She had conflicts with almost everyone she came in contact with in juvenile court, and she broke the rules of the court and the laws of the state, Croswell said. He also suggested Hunter was bitter about the long legal battle she waged over the disputed juvenile-judge election that eventually resulted in her winning the court seat and about her opponent in that race becoming the juvenile court’s administrative judge — a post Croswell said Hunter insisted should have been given to her.

“Judge Hunter, just like a child, cannot be told no,” he said.

Croswell also accused Hunter of intentionally backdating court documents, preventing prosecutors from being able to meet deadlines for appeals.

Hunter’s attorney, Clyde Bennett II, challenged those depictions, describing Hunter as a compassionate judge and woman of faith who tried to change the juvenile-court system and encountered opposition from political enemies.

He said the evidence would clearly show that she was not guilty of any of the nine counts in the indictment — an indictment that he said was the result of “political war” in Hamilton County.

Bennett said that the case is about a judge who followed the law.

“She would just not submit to arbitrary political authority, and that’s not a crime,” he said.

The Ohio Supreme Court disqualified Hunter from acting as a judge after her indictment.

Common Pleas judge Norbet Nadel rejected defense motions to move the trial. Hunter contends she can’t get a fair trial in Hamilton County because of pretrial publicity.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hunter asked Nadel to recuse himself. He refused.