PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — In a case of judicial overreach, the Ohio Supreme Court has issued a six-month fully stayed suspension to Portsmouth Municipal Court Judge Russell D. Kegley. The ruling follows damning revelations that Judge Kegley circumvented his own court’s standing policies to engineer the premature release of his son, Case Kegley, who had been jailed on charges of domestic violence and resisting arrest.
The controversy began when Case Kegley was arrested after an altercation in which he allegedly inflicted physical harm on his wife. Under the municipal court’s standard policy, individuals charged with domestic violence are required to remain in custody until a formal arraignment. However, Judge Kegley intervened within hours of his son’s arrest, instructing the jail officer on duty to expedite his son’s release without a hearing.
The fallout from this intervention was swift and troubling. The Ohio Supreme Court said Case Kegley’s release triggered further incidents, including additional police intervention including the use of a SWAT team at his home and his subsequent re-arrest after failing to appear for his scheduled arraignment. These actions raised questions about the judge’s conduct and the integrity of judicial processes in Portsmouth.
While the Board of Professional Conduct had initially recommended a public reprimand, the Ohio Supreme Court opted for a stronger response, citing the severity of Judge Kegley’s actions. The court underscored the dangerous implications of his decisions, particularly the impact on the safety and well-being of a domestic violence survivor.
View the slip decision below: