Removal of Marion Judge Jason Warner from the bench could take months marionstar.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from marionstar.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Charges filed on Election Day 2019 against Marion City Auditor Robert Landon and former GOP Chairman John Matthews were dismissed by visiting Judge James S. Rapp on Wednesday.
Landon (R), 30, of Marion was facing charges of two first-degree misdemeanors for allegedly illegally distributing a sample ballot and allegedly sending out communications purporting to be from the board of elections. Matthews, 54, of Caledonia was facing one first-degree misdemeanor charge for illegally distributing a sample ballot. In the verdict, Judge Rapp ruled while they did send out sample ballots, charging them for this would be unconstitutional, citing their first amendment rights.
Landon said because of the charges, he and his family have been completely devastated by unprecedented, malicious and evil political attack. Landon said he, his wife, his kids and even his parents were all victims of abuse throughout the 16 months leading up to the trial.
Ohio Supreme Court suspends Marion Judge Warner for felony conviction marionstar.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from marionstar.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Editor s note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct name of the deputy director of elections and how long the appointed judge will serve.
After Marion Common Pleas Judge Jason Warner was convicted of two felony charges, Marion County is now on the hunt for a replacement judge.
Under Ohio Revised Codes, Warner is no longer eligible to serve as a judge in the court system due to him being convicted of complicity to leaving the scene of an accident, a third-degree felony; and complicity to tampering with evidence, a fourth-degree felony. According to an email from Anne Yeager, manager of the office of public information with the Ohio Supreme Court, once the Supreme Court receives a certified copy of the conviction, the court can issue an order suspending the judge from the bench without pay.