Campbell responds to complaint, review panel chosen

Van Wert Municipal Court Judge Phil W. Campbell has filed a response to a complaint filed against him with the Ohio Supreme Court.

Campbell filed his response on June 9.

In general Campbell disagrees with the allegations of misconduct, either by disagreeing about the facts presented, or that the facts represent misconduct.

The high court's Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline filed the 10-count complaint against Van Wert Municipal Court Judge Phil Campbell on May 13.

In one allegation, Campbell was accused of pushing additional charges against a man involved with an underage party and not allowing a plea deal from prosecutors to go through. In another case, he was accused of proceeding in a criminal case without appointing a man an attorney.

If the allegations are founded, Campbell, who has been the municipal court judge since 1987, could face punishment ranging from a public reprimand to a suspension of his law license.

An order entered in the case on June 17 set up a three person panel to conduct disciplinary hearings. Those hearings have not been scheduled yet.

If the panel determines a conduct violation occured, it will recommend the appropriate sanction and forward that to the full board of commissioners for review. The panel could also dismiss the complaint without further review. The full board would either approve the panel's findings and send a recommendation to the Ohio Supreme Court for an appropriate sanction. Or the full board could dismiss the complaint without further review.

The Supreme Court would allow for objections and oral arguments on the recommendations before making its decision.