Update 2:50pm: The Ohio Supreme Court has issued an order today disqualifying Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter from acting as a judge because of the indictment. In the order signed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, it says “it is further ordered that she shall remain disqualified while any and all indictments filed in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas are pending and until further order of this court.”
*****
A Hamilton County Grand Jury has indicted Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter on eight felony counts. The charges include tampering with evidence, forgery and theft in office.
Hunter is accused of backdating court records to prevent an appeal. The theft charge involves using county credit cards allegedly to pay court fees in lawsuits against Hunter. She is also accused of making sure her brother, a former court employee, got paid overtime.
Hunter is scheduled to be in court next Friday.
Last monthWVXU's Tana Weingartner reportedformer Cincinnati Councilman Cecil Thomas and Bishop Bobby Hilton wanted an independent investigation into alleged missed court deadlines and failure of Hunter's attorneys to respond to a higher court's requests.
In November 2010 Hunter sued for a recount in the race for juvenile court judge against John Williams. Williams led by 23 votes but Hunter alleged hundreds of ballots should be counted where voters made it to the correct polling place, but the wrong table. A federal judge ordered the ballots be counted and Hunter was elected.
