The Ohio Supreme Court has removed Geauga County Judge Timothy Grendell from the bench, and suspended him from practicing law for 18 months, saying he committed serious judicial misconduct in several cases. He will not be paid during his suspension and must immediately stop acting as a judge or lawyer.

The court’s disciplinary report outlines misconduct across three separate matters.

In a custody and visitation case, Grendell was found to have acted unfairly, communicated improperly, and failed to step aside even when his impartiality was questioned. In another situation involving a dispute between the juvenile court and the county auditor, he used the power of his office inappropriately and made public statements that could affect the outcome of a case. The Court ruled he broke judicial conduct rules when he ordered two teenage boys to be held in a juvenile detention center to pressure them into visiting their father. The justices said Grendell had no legal basis to label the boys “unruly” or to detain them, and that he went even further by preventing them from contacting their mother while locked up, something juvenile court rules clearly prohibit. The Court said it understood Grendell was frustrated by the visitation dispute, but it emphasized that didn’t give him the right to ignore rules designed to protect kids.

At the same time, the Court dismissed two other misconduct charges. It ruled Grendell’s 2020 legislative testimony and his remarks at a Geauga County Tea Party meeting were both protected by the First Amendment and could not be used to discipline him.

In addition to being barred from practicing law, Grendell must return client property, notify all clients and attorneys involved in his cases, and refund any unearned fees. He also owes more than $23,000 in case costs and must complete additional legal education before he can even apply to be reinstated.

The Supreme Court stressed Grendell can only return to legal practice if he meets every requirement and the court approves his reinstatement.