Opinion: Judges stink up courthouse

The sheriff and the Ohio attorney general both have called for Sandusky County Prosecutor Tim Braun to resign, strongly suggesting he committed sex crimes against women who worked for him and attempted to falsify a criminal investigation to intimidate them. That's what his accusers allege. It's what the findings of a state investigation appear to show, also. We appreciate the leadership both the sheriff and the attorney general have provided in this regard, and their continuing efforts to remove Braun from office. He should be removed. That is the immediate need.But the investigation of Tim Braun revealed an ugly underbelly of corruption inside the Sandusky County Courthouse that also must be fully viewed, fully vetted and fully addressed. Our leaders in Columbus — Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor and the court's disciplinary counsel, Joseph M. Caligiuri — must not look away. Instead they both should and must direct studied attention to what happened inside the courthouse on Dec. 6, when one judge replaced another judge but kept the same playbook and derailed justice.Was it proper and lawful for Sandusky County Common Pleas Judge John Dewey to remain presiding judge for months? Was it proper and lawful for him to appoint the court administrator, Brock Kimmet — a close friend of Braun's — deputy clerk and supplanting the elected clerk of courts? Is there a law that stipulates he can do that, or law that prohibits it? Why the secrecy, then? Was this right or wrong? We fear if it were a correct procedure it would not have been done under seal, kept hidden from the public, from the victims and from the clerk of courts.These are questions O'Connor and Caligiuri both must ask and answer, directly and fully. Failure to do that fails victims, fails Ohioans and diminishes the integrity of the court. If it is shown that these actions were intended to improperly protect Braun and derail justice then Dewey should be sidelined just as Braun should be forced out. Any judge who fails justice or works against the interests of crime victims should be removed from office.O'Connor and Caligiuri also must decide if visiting Judge Janet Burnside was a soldier for justice, or something else, when she ignored the corruption in front of her and accepted a plea deal without the benefit of any evidence or testimony. Judge Burnside either gathered information about what crimes Braun allegedly committed during improper conversations with the special prosecutor and others outside the courtroom, or she ruled without knowing anything about the case. If it looks like poo, sits there like poo and smells like poo, chances are, it is poo.Yes, Braun should resign. We agree with Attorney General David Yost and Sheriff Chris Hilton, and we urge them to continue pushing for that. We also encourage Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine — who has the power to remove a prosecutor from elected office — to consider doing that, to act. But the sheriff, Yost and DeWine also should call on the Ohio Supreme Court to acknowledge its role in this stinkfest, and put down Dewey and Burnside for their part in derailing justice in Sandusky County.Visiting Judge Janet Burnside and Sandusky County Judge Joh Dewey.