On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, The Columbus Dispatch reported that Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Kimberly Cocroft filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against a significant number of her colleagues, several court employees, and the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office. The lawsuit, which was submitted to the U.S. District Court, alleges racism and discriminatory practices within the court system.

Judge Cocroft, who has served on the Franklin County bench for 15 years, is representing herself in this legal action. The lawsuit accuses her fellow judges of participating in what Cocroft describes as an “illegal enterprise,” involving a pattern of racketeering that includes the alleged destruction of public records.

In her lawsuit, Cocroft is seeking damages under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Reconstruction Era Civil Rights Act, and the Fourteenth Amendment. This legal action follows a complaint Cocroft filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in July, where she accused several judges of engaging in racist behavior.

The new lawsuit echoes many of the allegations made in the EEOC complaint. Cocroft reports that the EEOC has issued her a right-to-sue letter, allowing her to proceed with legal action even before the agency has resolved her complaint.

Cocroft claims that she and her staff, all of whom are Black, have faced unequal treatment based on their race. Her 44-page EEOC complaint provides specific instances of what she describes as discriminatory actions. These include claims of being coerced into resigning from her role as the administrative judge and delays in having her portrait displayed prominently in the courthouse.

In 2021, Cocroft made the decision to staff her office exclusively with Black employees. Since then, she asserts that her staff has not received the same level of training that was provided to previous staff members, who were predominantly white.

Additionally, the lawsuit outlines allegations that electronic calendar events and messages were intentionally deleted, which Cocroft argues is part of a broader scheme of illegal activity and fraud aimed at obstructing public records requests she has filed.

The lawsuit names nearly all of the current judges on the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, along with former judges Richard Frye and Colleen O’Donnell. Other defendants include First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jeanine Hummer, Theresa Dean, the director of the Labor and Employment unit for the prosecutor’s office, Deputy Court Director Susan Bedsole, Director of Court Support Services Stacy Worthington, Director of Human Resources and Training Cameo Davis, and Executive Director Jennifer Goodman. Notably, Judges Andy Miller, Andria Noble, Bill Sperlazza, and Jaiza Page are not included in the lawsuit.

Cocroft’s allegations highlight ongoing tensions within the Franklin County judiciary, raising questions about workplace culture and the treatment of minority judges and staff. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the court system and its operations moving forward.

 

 

Source: The Columbus Dispatch