Disciplinary Counsel v. Hon. Thomas M. O'Diam, Case No. 2021-0971
Greene County

A Greene County probate court judge faces a six-month suspension without pay because of his treatment of a man who publicly questioned whether the judge should preside over cases in which his daughter represents a party in the matter.

Prior to his 2013 appointment as Greene County probate judge, Thomas O'Diam practiced estate planning and probate law for 27 years as a member of the O'Diam, Steck & Sove Law Group. While he was still in private practice, Judge O'Diam's daughter, Brittney, was admitted to practice law and joined the firm.

After Judge O'Diam took the probate court bench, the firm reorganized and arranged a plan to buy out the judge's interest through payments that ended in 2021. Brittney continued to work at the new firm and gained an ownership interest.