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Court: Gallia County Judge Is Immune From Attorney’s Lawsuit
By: Associated Press
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An appeals court panel has found a rural Ohio county judge's actions were "petty, unethical and unworthy of his office" but that he is immune from an attorney's lawsuit.
Gallia County Judge David Dean Evans was sued in 2012 by attorney Robert Bright, who was fired after Evans kicked Bright off all the cases in his southeastern Ohio courtroom.
A federal judge had ruled Evans wasn't entitled to immunity from the lawsuit in the case. The Tuesday decision from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals panel reverses that, saying though Evans was "unprofessional," the court must protect judicial independence and immunity from liability.
Evans' attorney says the 6th Circuit made the right decision.
Bright's lawyer says he'll discuss the case later Tuesday after thoroughly reading the decision.