CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) has demanded an ethics investigation into Judge P. Randall Knece of the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas, following a study that reportedly highlighted racial disparities in drug sentencing. The call follows the Guardian’s recent exclusive reporting highlighting significant racial disparities in sentencing under his jurisdiction.
The Guardian reported on a study conducted by Professor Kat Albrecht of Georgia State University, who analyzed 1,132 drug-related cases and found that Black defendants were more likely to receive incarceration and less likely to be granted alternative sanctions compared to white defendants, even when accounting for factors such as the type of charges, drugs involved, and prior felony records.
The study concluded, “The analyses conducted for this report consistently find that Black and white defendants have differing case outcomes for the analyzed drug cases. Black defendants are more likely to be sentenced to incarceration and less likely to receive alternative sanctions even when considering types of charges, types of drugs, and presence of a prior felony.”
In response to these findings, CAIR-Columbus Executive Director Khalid Turaani stated, “Based on the disturbing allegations in this study, we urge relevant authorities to conduct an ethics investigation of Judge Knece’s sentencing history. People of all backgrounds must have confidence that the legal system will treat them fairly, without bias based on race, ethnicity or any other irrelevant factor.”
Turaani’s call for action comes amid a backdrop of recent racial tensions in Ohio. CAIR-Ohio recently condemned a neo-Nazi march in Columbus and the distribution of racist Ku Klux Klan (KKK) propaganda, highlighting the organization’s ongoing commitment to fighting racial and religious bigotry. “He noted that CAIR-Ohio recently condemned a neo-Nazi march in Columbus and the distribution of racist Ku Klux Klan (KKK) propaganda.”
In August, CAIR-Ohio stood in solidarity with the Haitian community of Springfield following a neo-Nazi march targeting them, showing consistent support against hate and discrimination.
Turaani said the broader implications of their advocacy, stating, “The American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.”
CAIR’s mission, as outlined by Turaani, extends beyond immediate advocacy to include protecting civil rights, enhancing understanding of Islam, promoting justice, and empowering American Muslims. This mission drives their response to the study’s findings and reflects their ongoing work in Ohio and beyond, he said.
The demand for an ethics investigation into Judge Knece’s practices grows louder as the Judge is set to retire at the end of this month.
State authorities have yet to comment on whether an ethics investigation will be initiated. Knece was given three weeks to reply for a request for an interview or give a statement on the Guardian’s initial reporting. He refused to do so.