The Chronicle would like to express condolences on the passing of Frederick Warren on October 10th. Frederick was from Russells Point, and father-in-law to Sarah and Miranda Warren.
The sisters-in-law have billboards side by side on Route 68 on the south end of Bellefontaine. Miranda and Sarah Warren are both running for Logan County Family Court judge, to replace the retiring Kim Kellogg-Martin. The contest has been anything but a family-friendly competition.
The latest salvo comes from Miranda Warren, who on October 18th, posted a series of letters on her Facebook campaign page (facebook.com/people/Miranda-Warren-for-Family-Court-Judge). The letters are from August and September, beginning with a letter from the family court, admonishing Warren to refrain from “disparaging the Court” and “eroding public confidence in the judiciary of the Logan County Family Court.” The letter cites Rule 8.2 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. Rule 8.2 states that “a lawyer shall not make a statement that the lawyer knows to be false or with reckless disregard as to its truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judicial officer, or candidate for election or appointment to judicial office.”
The August 19th letter from the court appears to reference a post on her campaign Facebook page from a day earlier, where Warren outlined several concerns with the current court administration. Her specific points were regarding scheduling issues, untimely decisions, and a “lack of administrative competence”.
Warren responded to the letter two weeks later, disagreeing with the court’s interpretation of Rule 8.2. She referenced two Ohio Supreme Court cases, which specifically cite First Amendment free speech protections for attorneys. She furthermore cited Rule 8.6 of the Ohio Code, which states that “it is not professional misconduct for an attorney to engage in speech or conduct protected by the Ohio and U.S. Constitutions.” The court responded two weeks later, stating that upon further legal review, they agreed with her free speech stance. The court added, however, that they were obligated to report their concern about undermining the court’s integrity.
The responses on Facebook are, not surprisingly, divided. Her supporters are grateful that she is bringing these alleged issues to light, and championing free speech rights. Her opponents question the timing of the letter release on Facebook – more than a month after the fact. They wonder if this is a political stunt two weeks before the election, primarily because her opponent’s name is on the court’s letterhead. Sarah Warren currently serves as a magistrate on the family court. According to ohioresidentdatabase.com, Kim Kellogg-Martin and magistrate Natasha Kennedy are also Republicans.
The situation has forced Sarah Warren to respond on her campaign page (facebook.com/sarahwarrenforjudge). On October 19th, Warren posted a three minute video of herself, saying that she learned about the letters on Facebook just like everyone else. She said that she did not write or sign the letters, and that her name is on the letterhead by necessity of her position as a sitting magistrate. The three-minute video then goes on, where Warren details and defends her qualifications for the office.
In addition to the social media whirlwind, Miranda Warren spoke at the Logan County Democrat dinner earlier this month and clarified that she has personally refused any endorsements and does not publicly identify as a Democrat. She expressed that it is frowned-upon to take endorsements and publicly share a political party. The Code allows candidates to attend and speak at political gatherings, although the American Bar Association rules are less clear. Both candidates attended a Top of Ohio Patriots meeting in September, which is based in Bellefontaine. The overarching goal of Canon 4 in the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct is to ensure that judicial candidates be “free and appear to be free from political influence and political pressure.”
Factually, the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct rule 4.2 permits judicial candidates to "seek, accept, or use endorsements from any person or organization," (C)(5). The rule also allows for candidates to "state in-person or in advertising that he or she, is a member of, affiliated with, nominee of, or endorsed by a political party," (C)(6)
The November 3rd ballot in Logan County displays the candidates in the race for Family Court Judge without political party affiliation. The Chronicle encourages readers to do their own research and vote accordingly.