An Ohio judge was kicked off the bench and suspended. He’s still on the November ballot

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There are many reasons – 17, to be specific – the Ohio Supreme Court, which oversees discipline of lawyers and judges, suspended Sandusky County Judge Jon Ickes from practicing law or serving as judge for two years.  

But as of now, he’s still on the November ballot. 

Ickes, whose alleged offenses range from harboring blatant conflicts of interest in cases to his use of vulgar or sexist or racist language to defendants or employees, won his uncontested GOP primary for re-election. The allegations date back to 2024. 

This means he’s on the ballot for a job he’s legally unqualified to serve, according to Kimberly Ontko, a county magistrate running for his seat as an independent. No Democrat is vying for the seat. 

Although the primary predated the Ickes suspension by several months, the Sandusky County Board of Elections at an emergency meeting ruled that Ickes’ judicial conduct was an “issue” for the primary and he can stay on the ballot. That’s according to Ontko’s description. The board director declined to comment or provide minutes of the emergency meeting from Monday. 

In an emergency lawsuit filed after the board’s decision, Ontko asked the Ohio Supreme Court to either purge Ickes from the ballot or essentially ignore votes on his behalf given his ineligibility. 

“A candidate for judicial office who is not eligible to assume the office sought has no right of ballot access,” she said. 

Neither Ickes nor the board of elections has responded to the lawsuit. 

Of the 17 offenses the Supreme Court considered, some are legalistic. He failed to recuse himself from cases where his stepson, a police officer, testified as a witness. He also used the n-word (he said he was quoting the film “Blazing Saddles”) within earshot of a Black criminal defendant. 

Other incidents raised by the court depict a crass and abusive workplace environment. He used labels like the “baby c—sucker case” with staff, who he adorned with sometimes racially charged nicknames including “dimebag Darrell” or “libtard.” He insulted staffers in front of defendants and warned a pregnant employee about how the “titty fairy” and “butt fairy” would be coming for her. 

“Ickes’s actions tainted the public’s trust. His conduct toward [his employee], women in general, and especially defendants and victims undermined the credibility of and public faith in the government, impeded the common good, and were not in the best interests of the American people,” the justices wrote.

Two Republican justices – Pat DeWine and Joe Deters – sought lighter sentences. Deters said he would have nixed the entire two-year suspension if Ickes avoided further trouble. 

Ickes could not be reached Wednesday – a court receptionist confirmed he’s no longer coming into the office, and he hasn’t yet filed in response to Ontko’s Supreme Court lawsuit. The court gave him until Friday. 

Lisa Hartley, director of the Sandusky County Board of Elections, declined to comment on Wednesday in light of the lawsuit. She said she’d need to consult with the board’s lawyers when asked to provide copies of minutes of its Monday meeting.

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