Former Marion County judge Jason Warner and his wife scheduled to be released from prison

A former Marion County judge and his wife who were convicted of leaving the scene of a two-vehicle accident in 2020 are scheduled to be released from prison over the next two weeks.

Former Marion County Common Pleas Court judge Jason D. Warner, 53, Marion, and Julia M. Warner, 56, Marion, were each convicted March 11, 2021, of one count of complicity to tampering with evidence, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of complicity to leaving the scene of an accident, a third-degree felony, for leaving the scene of a two-vehicle crash on June 4, 2020, in which Colton Gray of Marion was severely injured.

Visiting Judge Patricia Cosgrove sentenced both of the Warners to two years in prison. According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections website, Julia Warner is scheduled to be released from the Ohio Reformatory for Women on Sept. 24. Jason Warner is scheduled to be released from the Toledo Correctional Institution on Oct. 1.

The Ohio Supreme Court "imposed an interim felony suspension" against Jason Warner on March 12, 2021, "suspending (him) from the practice of law pending investigation, initiation, and completion of (the) disciplinary proceeding against him."

The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct (BPC) has further recommended to the Ohio Supreme Court that Jason Warner "be suspended indefinitely from the practice of law in Ohio." The BPC made its recommendation on Feb. 3, 2023, following a hearing conducted in October 2022. The Supreme Court has yet to render a decision on the matter.

Warner, a Republican, was elected judge of the Marion County Common Pleas Court in 2018, sweeping to victory in the general election with nearly 62% of the vote. The final tally saw Warner with 11,688 votes to 7,298 votes for Mark Russell, a Democrat.

Marion mayor, prosecutor, judge support law license suspension

Two of Marion County's high profile elected officials told the Star that they are opposed to Jason Warner being reinstated to practice law in the state of Ohio.

Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer was the first local elected official to call for Jason Warner's resignation from the Marion County Common Pleas Court bench in August 2020. Schertzer, a Democrat, told the Star on Wednesday that he believes Warner should not be allowed to practice law again.

"No. I don't think he should get his law license back," Schertzer said emphatically. "There have been dozens, hundreds, maybe thousands of former attorneys in this state that have lost their law license for far less of a crime than what Jason Warner was convicted of. And if we've not let those folks get their license back, why should we let Jason?

"Why is his situation so unique that the Supreme Court should grant him the license to practice law in the state of Ohio in the community where he broke the law when he was a sitting judge? That, in itself, is, in my mind, enough to say I just don't think he should get his law license back."

Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan agreed with Schertzer's belief that Warner's license to practice law should not be reinstated, noting that judges must be held to a higher standard by virtue of their position and the oath they have taken to uphold the law.

“Everyone in Marion County knows that judges have a much greater obligation to follow the law and act appropriately," Grogan, a Republican, told the Star. "They sit in judgment of others, so they are required to always act ethically and in compliance with the law. Former judge Jason Warner failed in that high obligation. I was most troubled that Mr. Warner — even after being convicted — refused to apologize to the 19-year-old boy who was the victim of his crime. Convicted felons shouldn’t be able to practice law and that includes Jason Warner.”

Marion County Common Pleas Court Judge Warren T. Edwards publicly opposed Warner's bid to have his law license reinstated during a hearing before the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct held Oct. 18-19, 2022.

"I cannot overexpress the impact this has had on my court," Edwards said during his testimony at the hearing last October. "The public faith in our court system here is at an all-time low where they feel like special treatment was given throughout the process, and your decision here today will greatly impact that. If this man is allowed to practice in this jurisdiction again, it will be seen as special treatment and will undermine the administration of justice in our community."

Edwards told the Star on Thursday that his stance on the issue remains the same as it did last year.

It's unknown at this point whether the Warners will return to Marion County following their release from prison. The Warners' former residence on Chaucer Court in Marion County was sold in December 2021.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Former Marion County judge, wife due to be released from prison