StayTunedSandusky

StayTunedSandusky

StayTunedSandusky

Ashli Ford rejected: Chief Justice won’t disqualify McGookey

Claims about jurors briefly sleeping, jury room pressure and hallway chats leave High Court unimpressed, unpersuaded

Matt Westerhold's avatar
Matt Westerhold
Sep 08, 2026
∙ Paid

SANDUSKY — Ohio’s Supreme Court Chief Justice has denied a motion to remove Erie County Common Pleas Court Judge Beverly McGookey from the upcoming trial of local podcaster Ashli Ford.

Defense attorney Peter Pattakos sought the judge’s disqualification, claiming judicial bias following a recent mistrial. The affidavit raised three main arguments:

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