Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. West

We adopt the board’s findings of fact and conclusions of law. Respect for the law and for judicial officers who interpret and apply the law is the sine qua non of an attorney’s right to continue to practice law in Ohio. Disciplinary Counsel v. Trumbo (1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 369, 372, 667 N.E.2d 1186, 1188-1189. An attorney who publicly criticizes a judge “should be certain of the merit of [the] complaint, use appropriate language, and avoid petty criticisms, for *7unrestrained and intemperate statements tend to lessen public confidence in our legal system.” EC 8-6.

Here, respondent’s conduct in…