COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has appointed former Cuyahoga County Judge Mark Majer to the Cleveland Municipal Court bench, replacing the controversial Pinkey Carr.
Carr, who had served in her position since 2012, was suspended indefinitely by the Ohio Supreme Court last October for conduct the justices saw as being "in a manner benefitting a game show host rather than a judge." The governor's office confirmed Friday she has since resigned from her post altogether.
According to the state disciplinary council, Carr's judicial misconduct included forcing involved parties to show up in person for court proceedings during the COVID-19 shutdown, as well as sending someone to jail for 15 days after the defendant apparently rolled their eyes in court and cursed in lockup. Her lawyer acknowledged her behavior and claimed she had "taken full responsibility for her conduct," but the Supreme Court ruled 5-2 to bar her from her duties, with even the only dissenters supporting a two-year ban.
A former private attorney, Majer worked in the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court for 16 years before DeWine tapped him in 2021 to replace the retiring Dick Ambrose on the Common Pleas Court. He was handily defeated by Jeffrey J. Saffold in his bid for a full term last November, and since that time has been back in his position as a juvenile magistrate.
Majer will officially replace Carr on Feb. 24, and he will again have to run in this year's election should he wish to keep the seat.