Juvenile Judge Convicted of Felony Contests Proposed Suspension
Disciplinary Counsel v. Tracie M. Hunter, Case No. 2023-0472
Hamilton County

Former Hamilton County Juvenile Judge Tracie Hunter was convicted in 2014 of a felony and served a jail sentence. She now contests a proposed indefinite suspension from the practice of law based on the conviction, which she is still challenging.

The Board of Professional Conduct has recommended to the Supreme Court of Ohio that Hunter be indefinitely suspended and given credit for time served during an interim suspension. Hunter has been suspended since October 2014, the month in which she was convicted of having unlawful interest in a public contract.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel charged Hunter with violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct and stated that every judge who committed a felony while in office was either disbarred or indefinitely suspended. The disciplinary counsel said it delayed filing charges against Hunter with the board for eight years, until both state and federal courts rejected appeals of Hunter's conviction.

The disciplinary counsel argues the indefinite suspension is appropriate for Hunter's actions. Hunter counters that she didn't violate the law though she was convicted and that the board received no proof during the disciplinary proceedings that she broke any conduct rules. Hunter's objection to the board recommendation triggered an oral argument before the Supreme Court.