On Friday, May 2, 2025, Cleveland.com reported that the Ohio disciplinary counsel recommended a one-year suspension from practicing law for Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze due to allegations of misconduct involving favoritism toward a close friend. The counsel suggested that six months of the suspension could be waived if Celebrezze commits no further violations.
Joseph Caligiuri, the disciplinary counsel, filed a 29-page report with the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct, accusing Celebrezze of undermining public trust in the judiciary through deceitful actions. The report claims she funneled significant business to Mark Dottore, a childhood friend appointed as a receiver in divorce cases, overseeing asset division. Celebrezze allegedly approved payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars to Dottore, despite objections from attorneys involved in the cases.
The accusations center on Celebrezze’s handling of four complex divorce cases. In three instances, after other judges recused themselves, Celebrezze, as administrative judge, was required to randomly reassign the cases among the court’s four other judges. Instead, she retained the cases herself. In a fourth case, she allegedly pressured another judge to step aside so she could take control. Celebrezze admitted in March to judicial violations, including failing to recuse herself from cases where her impartiality could be questioned due to her personal relationship with Dottore.
Caligiuri’s report highlights concerns about Celebrezze’s honesty, noting a private investigator hired by a litigant documented her meetings with Dottore at restaurants, his office, and his home. One incident involved the two kissing after a dinner, which Celebrezze attributed to their shared Italian heritage and habit of greeting close friends and family affectionately. However, Caligiuri described their relationship as deeply emotional, extending beyond mere friendship, and criticized Celebrezze for initially misrepresenting its nature. Litigants, unaware of this relationship, were left questioning the fairness of Dottore’s appointments and fees.
Dottore defended Celebrezze, arguing against the proposed suspension and stating she made errors while trying to assist the court. He claimed his expertise as a receiver made him the primary choice for such cases, given the challenges of working in the Domestic Relations Court. Meanwhile, Caligiuri’s report emphasized Celebrezze’s willingness to distort the truth to achieve her goals.
The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct will review Caligiuri’s report and a forthcoming response from Celebrezze’s attorney, Monica Sansalone, before making a recommendation to the Ohio Supreme Court, which will determine Celebrezze’s fate. If suspended, the penalty would affect her current term, set to end in January 2027. Celebrezze, who has served as a judge since 2009, could return to the bench after any suspension.
In a related development, the FBI subpoenaed records from Celebrezze’s office in February, seeking information on her dealings with Dottore and his company, Dottore Companies LLC, dating back to 2008.
Additionally, on Thursday, May 1, 2025, the 8th Ohio Court of Appeals revived a lawsuit against Celebrezze by her former aide, Georgeanna Semary. Semary alleged Celebrezze retaliated against her, including demoting her and cutting her salary in 2023, after she provided public records to a Marshall Project reporter investigating the judge’s cases. The appeals court sent the case back to a trial court for further proceedings.
Source: Cleveland.com
