MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Judge Matthew Frericks of the Marion County Common Pleas Court has issued a rare public statement regarding a photograph circulating on social media from a recent holiday gathering held at the courthouse.
The image, taken during a Christmas party in Court Room B, has sparked accusations and significant commentary online regarding the nature of the event. An anonymous source shared the photograph with Marion County Now, prompting inquiries to the judge.
In his statement, Judge Frericks clarified the circumstances surrounding the gathering, explaining:
“Like so many places of employment, we had an employee holiday party before Christmas. There were no cases scheduled that day. Since the Courtroom is the largest area, we typically hold meetings and gatherings in that room, which is what we did that day.
Using my own personal money, I purchased a variety of bottles, and employees took turns selecting a bottle as a nominal gift.
Of course, no one consumed alcohol during the short event or in the Courthouse subsequently. I don’t pay much attention to social media posts, but these facts might put some context to some of the online gossip.”
Judge Frericks
Marion County Common Pleas Court