Jon Husted
Speaker
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Tasha Hamilton |
| March 15, 2006 |
(614) 644-9820 |
STATEMENT FROM OHIO HOUSE SPEAKER JON HUSTED REGARDING THE REMOVAL OF FRANKLIN COUNTY COURT JUDGE CONNOR |
COLUMBUS - The following statement can be attributed in part or whole to Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted (R-Kettering) pertaining to the removal of Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge John Connor:
"It is plainly clear that Judge Connor has been a party to a serious miscarriage of justice - allowing an admitted sexual offender free on probation rather than imposing the strength and power the law allows in these cases.
"His actions have gone far beyond merely an abuse of discretion; his actions approach outright ignoring the nature and extent of Ohio's sexual predator laws. At the same time the Ohio House is reviewing and passing legislation safeguarding our society with regard to sexual offenders, Judge Connor has released into the community an admitted molester of two young children. It is the equivalent of gross misconduct in office and is a blatant disregard of the public's interests. We plan to review all of the facts of the matter and pursue all options available to us as a legislative body.
"The Ohio House of Representatives is currently reviewing the processes by which Judge Connor may be removed from the bench, including impeachment or the passage of a concurrent resolution here in the Ohio General Assembly.
"As a co-equal branch of government we are charged to exercise reasonable checks and balances including the responsibility to remove a jurist who has shown to be not worthy of the office he holds.
"This is a serious and troubling matter and action needs to be taken - action on behalf of Ohio's most vulnerable and defenseless citizens, our children. The safety and security of our children is paramount and we will examine all possible means of removal in the days to come."
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