Saturday, July 4, 1998
The Ohio State Bar Association has recommended the Ohio Supreme Court indefinitely suspend the law license of Greene County Common Pleas Judge M. David Reid for alleged ethics violations.
"(Judge Reid) has demonstrated over a period of years a pattern of conduct whereby his business and financial interests superseded his judicial responsibilities, bringing the bench and bar into disrepute . . . " the bar association's attorneys wrote.
The recommendation was made Tuesday to a panel of the high court's disciplinary board. Richard Alkire, chairman of the three-member panel, said Thursday that the panel's recommendation might not reach the full board until October. The full board will then send its recommendation to the court.
Judge Reid's attorneys, John J. Chester and Donald C. Brey, contend Judge Reid did not violate the Code of Judicial Ethics and the complaint against him should be dismissed.
Judge Reid could not be reached for comment Thursday night. A man answering the phone at Judge Reid's home hung up without comment.
The association filed the complaint against Judge Reid on Aug. 7, charging that he failed to disclose a $150,000 investment in a sports bar in the Dayton suburb of Beavercreek. The complaint also charged that Judge Reid dismissed a lawsuit against AmeriFirst Bank on March 11, 1996, after his sports bar obtained a $600,000 loan from the bank. Judge Reid never disclosed his interest in the bar to any parties in the lawsuit, the association's attorneys said.
Judge Reid's attorneys said that Judge Reid did not list the investment in the sports bar because he had not received the shares in the corporation and the restaurant had not yet opened when he filed the report.
His attorneys also said that the judge had no knowledge of financial dealings between the bank and the bar at the time.
The judge's attorneys also denied that the judge conducted private business from his public office.
