Legal Question in Criminal Law in Ohio

Can a judge threaten to punish you just for going to trial and putting the witness through the trial


Asked on 8/14/11, 9:18 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Eric Willison Eric Eastman Willison

In Ohio, a judge is not supposed to threaten you with a harsher sentence for going to court and contesting your guilt or innocence. But it happens often enough that it is called "courtroom rent". If the judge said it on the record, then there may be some problems that the judge might have with a bar association, or it might be a basis for you to ask to have the judge recuse himself/herself from the case.

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Answered on 8/15/11, 11:13 am


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