What does it look like when Republicans fight Republicans? Pitching wedges at 20 paces? Drag-racing Buicks? Riding-mower “chicken”?

        Turns out it looks like Butler County, where Democrats are so scarce Republicans are attacking each other like a frenzy of sharks.

        Prosecutor Robin Piper accuses Presiding Judge Matthew Crehan of bias and arrogance. The judge says “it's all politics” — which is all true in Butler County.

        Mr. Piper won a scorched-earth campaign in 2000, pledging to clean up Backward County, where, he claimed, deals were cut and opponents were intimidated with secret files and threats.

        Judge Crehan has a reputation for being too lenient on domestic abusers and child molesters, the prosecutor says.

        “I've had all kinds of little run-ins with him,” Mr. Piper said. Old battles still make him hot enough to toast chrome. He says Judge Crehan is not a referee, but plays for the defense.

This means war

        “I took it for awhile after I got into office, and then he did me a couple of times and I decided to just go to war with him.”

        Judge Crehan feigned surprise, then whacked the prosecutor with a 2-by-4. “I don't know of any friction,” he said. “I am not aware of any dispute we've ever had. The only dispute is that he's pushing to get jobs for Joe Ruscigno and Jane Fitch, who are big campaign contributors. “He's a young prosecutor flexing his muscles and he wants to have more influence. The independence of the court is at issue.”

        Their civil war is over court reporters. Mr. Ruscigno, the county GOP treasurer, and his wife, Ms. Fitch, own Cincinnati-Dayton-Cleveland Stenographic Inc.

        Mr. Piper for the prosecution: Except in capital cases, the county relies on audio recordings that are transcribed and typed by judges' secretaries, who can earn an extra $20,000 a year. Mr. Piper says the unqualified secretaries make mistakes and are encouraged to doctor records to make their bosses look good.

        His evidence: a rape case with 377 errors; a transcript that confuses statements by the prosecution and the defense; a conviction reversed because records are so shabby; a case in which five pages of arguments were left out.

        He says every other county in the region uses trained court reporters. “Criminal trespass cases get a better, fairer record than guys convicted of rape in Butler County.”

What problem?

        Judge Crehan for the defense: “In 14 years I don't think I've ever heard a complaint about transcripts.”

        He says the system is adequate, and most courts are moving to audio and video records. Court reporting “is a dying profession.”

        “I am not against live court reporters. That's the best system. That's a Cadillac. But the cost is outrageous.”

        His estimate: $600,000.

        Mr. Piper says the cost is less than half that much.

        “Butler County is not impoverished,” the prosecutor said. “Just like justice should not be for sale, it shouldn't be discounted.”

        If I'm on the jury, I rule that the county should avoid the appearance of political favors by taking bids, then hire real court reporters.

        And I find the prosecutor and the judge guilty of felony sandbox feuding — in juvenile court.

        Contact Peter Bronson at 768-8301; e-mail: pbronson@enquirer.com. Cincinnati.Com keyword: Bronson.
       

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