SANDUSKY — When Ashli Ford’s trial ended in a mistrial in May 2026, many assumed the primary battleground would shift to preparing for a retrial. Instead, the real drama has moved straight to the Ohio Supreme Court, where defense attorney Peter Pattakos has refiled a high-stakes Successor Affidavit of Disqualification aimed at removing Erie County Common Pleas Court Judge Beverly McGookey from the bench.
At the center of the dispute are allegations of unrecorded ex parte communications, conflicting court accounts, and crucial courtroom security footage that defense counsel claims refutes the judge’s official narrative.
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During the trial in May 2026, Prosecutor Kevin Baxter moved to disqualify Juror #12 on the morning of May 22, right before closing arguments, asserting the juror had been sleeping throughout the proceedings.
Defense counsel objected immediately, but Judge McGookey granted the dismissal. When pressed by Pattakos on the record to identify who had observed the juror sleeping, the trial transcript records Judge McGookey stating:
“It’s been reported from the—from the observers... I saw him with my own eyes.”
When defense counsel attempted to build a formal record regarding the objection, Judge McGookey cut short further inquiry, telling counsel, “That’s enough...”
Following the eventual mistrial on May 27, Juror #12 executed a sworn affidavit stating that he was fully attentive throughout the trial, took 26 pages of notes, and was “surprised and disappointed” by his sudden dismissal without questioning.
Note: The video was obtained by StayTunedSandusky.com through a routine public records request submitted to county officials.
