A Fayette County Judge will go before the Ohio Supreme Court later this month after being accused of several counts of misconduct.
Fayette County Probate Juvenile Judge David B. Bender is accused of failing to notify a client of his April 2011 appointment to the juvenile court, failure to appoint new counsel to his client’s case, and choosing to turn down a settlement in a then-pending case when instructed to do otherwise, among several other alleged acts of misconduct.
According to documents obtained by Fayette Advocate, Bender is also accused of paying himself and several clients from an “IOLTA” account, also known as a lawyer’s trust fund, which allegedly violates professional rules of conduct for a lawyer.
He is also accused of violating “a manner that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.”
Bender responded to the complaint in official court fillings denying the allegations. Our newsroom contacted Bender’s office, who declined to comment on the matter.
The Supreme Court has set a June 21 court date to hear the case.
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