SANDUSKY — Justice for Ashli Ford has become a slow crawl with the embattled podcaster awaiting three major court milestones that will impact the rest of her life.
The U.S. District Court of Appeals in Toledo in early June heard defense counsel and appellant attorney Peter Pattakos argue that Ford’s 2025 felony intimidation convictions should be thrown out. Ford was exercising her First Amendment right when she threatened Norwalk city officials, trying to convince them to get prior criminal charges against her dropped, Pattakos argued.
Ford’s second big hurdle concerns who presides over her forgery trial, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 28. In August, Pattakos filed Affidavits of Disqualification, arguing that all Erie County judges should be barred from overseeing the trial. All but one Affidavit has been dismissed, but Ohio Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy has not ruled on the claim Pattakos made that Judge Beverly McGookey colluded with County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter to corrupt the jury to prevent Ford from being acquitted at an earlier trial.
It’s unclear why it’s taken the Appeals Court judges three months to rule on Ford’s appeal, and it’s unknown when Justice Kennedy will make a decision. If She allows McGookey to remain the presiding judge, the trial could get started as scheduled. But if she orders that a visiting judge be appointed, that could push back Ford’s trial date.
