On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Cleveland.com reported that Michael Callahan, a former Summit County prosecutor and judge, surrendered his law license amidst accusations of sexual misconduct.
The Ohio Supreme Court accepted Callahan’s resignation, effectively barring him from practicing law or representing clients in the future. He is also obligated to notify his current clients that he can no longer serve as their legal representative.
The disciplinary action stems from a complaint filed by the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct on December 30, detailing allegations made by a Berea woman. According to the complaint, the woman, who suffers from disabilities including arthritis, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and anxiety, sought Callahan’s legal assistance in an eviction case initiated by her father in Berea Municipal Court.
The woman was unable to afford Callahan’s services. During their initial meeting on December 10, 2023, Callahan allegedly refused to discuss the case until a friend of the woman provided him with a massage, the complaint states. The complaint further alleges that Callahan later pressured the woman to perform a sex act on him in exchange for legal representation. Initially, she refused, but she eventually relented to performing a different act after Callahan’s insistence.
Ten days later, Callahan visited the woman’s home under the pretense of discussing the case, despite knowing that the hearing had been postponed. During this visit, he allegedly demanded sex from the woman, threatening to withdraw his legal services and leave her homeless if she refused. The complaint states that the woman ultimately complied with his demand.
The following month, the woman terminated Callahan’s services and reported the December 20 incident to Middleburg Heights police. However, prosecutors declined to press charges, citing the “he-said, she-said” nature of the allegations. The city’s law director advised the woman to report the matter to the Board of Professional Conduct.
In response to the complaint, Callahan denied the allegations of forced sexual acts and denied paying the woman’s friend for sexual favors.
Callahan had a long and prominent career in the legal field, having served as a county prosecutor, judge, county councilman, and Akron Municipal judge. He has also handled several high-profile cases, including the defense of Stow pain doctor James Bressi, who was accused of sexually assaulting and molesting 11 patients. Callahan successfully defended Bressi, securing a not guilty verdict on 26 of 27 counts and later obtaining a new trial on the remaining misdemeanor conviction, which ultimately resulted in a no contest plea and no jail time.
Source: Cleveland.com
