On Monday, October 28, 2024, an ethics complaint was filed against Judge Jon Marshal Ickes of the Sandusky County Common Pleas Court, alleging multiple violations of the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct and the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. The complaint was submitted by the Disciplinary Counsel of Ohio, detailing accusations of harassment, fostering an inappropriate work environment, and using a racial slur.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Jon Marshal Ickes,” with case number 2024-032.
The complaint outlines a series of incidents involving Ickes and his former assignment commissioner, J.D., who was hired in July 2022. According to the allegations, the harassment began after J.D. disclosed her pregnancy in March 2024. It is claimed that Ickes made inappropriate comments, including telling her to “man up” regarding her pregnancy symptoms and making sexualized jokes about her body.
The complaint details a specific incident on April 2, 2024, where Ickes allegedly referred to a mythical figure called the “titty fairy” in a conversation with J.D. Despite her discomfort, Ickes reportedly continued to press the issue, asking what they could talk about and dismissing her feelings. J.D. felt ridiculed and reported the interactions to Court Administrator Megan Miller, expressing emotional distress during the conversation.
The situation escalated when on April 3, 2024, Ickes’ wife, Cynthia, called J.D. and expressed concern that Ickes would not be able to joke with her anymore. The following day, J.D. reported feeling anxious about the incidents, especially given her status as an at-will employee, which left her worried about potential repercussions for speaking out.
In late April 2024, after transferring to a new position with Judge Jeremiah Ray, J.D. filed a formal EEO complaint against Ickes and his bailiff, Candice Talbot, citing the earlier incidents. The complaint was supported by J.D.’s written summary of the events, which included details of the verbal exchanges that took place.
On May 1, 2024, J.D. filed an additional complaint against Talbot, alleging harassment following her departure from Ickes’ staff. The report indicated that Talbot had berated J.D. for accepting a new position and accused her of exaggerating the allegations against Ickes.
In response to the complaints, Sandusky County Administrator Theresa Garcia placed Talbot on paid administrative leave while an investigation was initiated. Ickes reportedly expressed disagreement with this decision and later attempted to halt the investigation process, claiming that authority over employment actions resided solely with the judges of the court.
The complaints were investigated by Clemans-Nelson & Associates, a human resources consulting firm, which produced reports in June 2024. These reports recommended disciplinary actions against Talbot and highlighted a concerning work environment fostered by Ickes. It was noted that employees described a culture of unprofessionalism and inappropriate behavior, although the report did not find evidence that Ickes targeted any specific race or gender.
In addition to the harassment allegations, the complaint also addresses an incident involving the use of a racial slur. Ickes reportedly recited quotes from the film “Blazing Saddles,” which included the n-word. This incident occurred in the presence of Simmons, an African American defendant, and others, prompting significant offense among those present.
The complaints against Ickes and Talbot were formally reported to the Sandusky County Prosecutor’s Office, leading to further investigation and scrutiny of the conduct within the court. The allegations have raised serious concerns regarding the professional standards upheld by judges and court staff in the jurisdiction.
Judge Ickes, who has served on the Sandusky County Common Pleas Court since his appointment in 2020, is expected to respond to the allegations as the disciplinary process unfolds. The outcome of the investigation remains pending, and the implications for Ickes’ judicial career could be significant, depending on the findings of the inquiry.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
