On Monday, May 5, 2025, Cleveland.com reported that Cuyahoga County Judge Hollie Gallagher defended her conduct in the public corruption case involving suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King, as the trial remains paused. Gallagher denied allegations of disrespect toward King’s attorney, Charles Tyler, though she acknowledged frustration over a late motion filed by the defense just before the trial was set to start.
The trial, originally scheduled for last week, was halted after Tyler requested the Ohio Supreme Court intervene and remove Gallagher from the case. Tyler alleged that Gallagher, upset about a last-minute defense motion to dismiss three of King’s charges, verbally reprimanded him in court and prejudged the motion.
On Thursday, Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy ordered the trial suspended and directed Gallagher to respond to each accusation. Kennedy also temporarily stripped Gallagher of authority over the case pending a ruling on Tyler’s request to disqualify her.
In a letter to Kennedy, obtained by Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, Gallagher maintained she was neither hostile nor disrespectful to Tyler and asserted her ability to remain impartial. She noted that during a conference call, Tyler and prosecutors, Assistant County Prosecutors Andrew Rogalski and James May, argued over evidence related to the late motion. Gallagher’s letter stated that Tyler claimed prosecutors made derogatory remarks about the court, sparking further disputes between the attorneys.
Gallagher informed the parties that the trial would be canceled and later deemed the defense motion untimely, as it was filed less than 24 hours before the trial’s start and nearly seven months after Tyler was retained as counsel. During a meeting in her chambers, Tyler alleged that Gallagher indicated she would deny the motion without hearing his argument. Gallagher clarified in her letter that she said the motion would “most likely” be denied, but allowed Tyler to present his argument on the record.
Tyler argued that Gallagher’s actions were intended to humiliate him in front of the media and witnesses and could bias potential jurors. He also claimed Gallagher showed hostility only toward him, the sole African American attorney in the case, and requested her disqualification from this case and any future cases where he serves as defense counsel. Gallagher rejected Tyler’s request to recuse herself, stating she is confident in her impartiality.
King, 57, has been East Cleveland’s mayor since 2016 and faces 12 charges, including theft in office and unlawful interest in a public contract, following his indictment in October 2024. Prosecutors allege he funneled over $75,000 in city funds to companies he or his family owned and provided a city-owned car and gas card to former Councilman Ernest Smith. Smith, 49, faces charges including theft in office and has also pleaded not guilty. Both King and Smith deny the allegations, with King describing the charges as politically motivated.
Source: Cleveland.com
