MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Former Marion County Common Pleas judge Jason Warner has been indefinitely suspended from practicing law by the Supreme Court of Ohio.
This suspension comes after Warner’s conviction for two felonies – leaving the scene of an auto accident and tampering with evidence.
Warner had already resigned from his position as judge after receiving a two-year prison sentence.
The Supreme Court had imposed an interim suspension on Warner following his felony convictions in March 2021. However, the Court’s recent ruling did not give him any credit for the time he served during the interim suspension.
The Office of the Disciplinary Counsel filed a complaint against Warner with the Board of Professional Conduct based on his conviction.
The board found that Warner violated various judicial and attorney conduct rules, including the requirement for a judge to comply with the law and maintain the public’s confidence in the judiciary’s independence, integrity, and impartiality. The board also found that Warner’s conduct reflected negatively on his fitness to practice law, which is prohibited for a lawyer.
As a result, the board recommended that the Supreme Court indefinitely suspend Warner without granting him any credit for time served during the interim suspension.
Warner objected to the board’s findings, leading to an oral argument before the Supreme Court. During the argument, Warner claimed that he lacked the criminal intent to commit the two offenses. He mentioned that his wife had driven away from the accident scene despite his protests, and he argued that he did not assist her in leaving or realize that she would drive away once they got into their vehicle.
Furthermore, he contended that as a passenger, he had no legal obligation to remain at the scene, prevent his wife from leaving, or provide aid to injured individuals involved in the accident. According to court transcripts, the Warners were at a party hosted by Marion Attorney Todd Anderson. While Julie Warner drank at the Anderson home, Todd Anderson and Jason Warner went to another friend’s house and drank. Sometime after the two returned to Anderson’s home, the Warners left and were heading home when the accident occurred.
Several Marion area Judges raced to support former Judge Jason Warner’s bid to get his law license back last October.
Sitting Marion County Common Pleas Court Judge W.T. Edwards, who was the only witness called to testify by the Disciplinary Board, didn’t see it that way:
“I cannot overexpress the impact this has had on my Court. The public faith in our court system here (Marion) is at an all-time low, where they feel like special treatment was given throughout the process, and your decisions here today will greatly impact that.
If this man is allowed to practice in this jurisdiction again, it will be seen as special treatment and will undermine the administration of justice and our community. “Judge Edwards said.
In its decision, the Court ruled that while Warner’s suspension is indefinite, a permanent suspension is not warranted because his felony was the result of a one-time action and not ongoing criminal activity over a period of time. Because the facts are part of the criminal case against him, Warner cannot contest his conviction.