By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - The Ohio Supreme Court's disciplinary counsel has exonerated the Butler County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court judges, after investigating County Commissioner Mike Fox's allegations of judicial misconduct.

The counsel decided that there was no "substantial, credible evidence" of any of the violations Fox accused them of in his scathing report issued earlier this year.

Fox had accused the courts of tolerating false statements, excluding the principal parties from hearings, blocking access to appeals, and failing to enforce court orders.

A report issued this week by Assistant Disciplinary Counsel Amy C. Stone said Fox heard only one side of each case, and at times misinterpreted the law and jumped to false conclusions.

Domestic Relations Court Judges Leslie Spillane and Sharon Kennedy said the report vindicates them. "The disciplinary counsel had every transcript and every court order in those cases," Spillane said. "Mike heard only one side and ran with it."

Fox said the report just shows how one segment of the legal system protects another segment. "These guys are all in the same club," Fox said.

Fox has taken considerable heat for criticizing fellow Republicans Spillane, Kennedy and Juvenile Court Judge David Niehaus.

County party leaders became so upset with Fox they recruited state Rep. Greg Jolivette to run against him in next year's primary election.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com