On Monday, December 22, 2025, The Marshall Project reported that Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze resigned from her position following a felony charge of tampering with public records. The charge stems from allegations that she funneled work within her courtroom to Mark Dottore, a longtime friend, by repeatedly appointing him to oversee lucrative divorce cases.
Celebrezze’s charge was filed by way of information, a legal procedure often indicative of an intent to plead guilty. The vacancy created by her resignation on the Domestic Relations Court will be filled by the governor.
The third-degree felony charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to three years. This development follows more than two years after The Marshall Project – Cleveland initially reported on Celebrezze’s relationship with Dottore. Since then, she has faced disciplinary action from the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct and a separate ongoing criminal investigation by the FBI.
In 2023, The Marshall Project – Cleveland also reported that Celebrezze, then the administrative judge, directed case assignments to herself while falsely stating in court entries that the cases were randomly assigned.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley emphasized the importance of integrity within the judicial system, stating that any deviation from it undermines the foundation of the courts. O’Malley’s statement detailed that Celebrezze filed a case note on January 19, 2023, containing false information about being randomly assigned to a case when she had manually assigned it to herself.
Celebrezze’s attorney, Ian Friendman, urged the public to consider her entire career of public service before judging her based on a single act. He asserted that her contributions would be presented in court.
The case highlights the practice of judges appointing receivers in complex divorce cases to manage marital assets. These receivers, including real estate, cash, and businesses, are compensated by the divorcing couples. Records indicate that Celebrezze approved nearly $500,000 in fees to Dottore Cos. LLC between January 2017 and June 2023. During that period, she appointed either Dottore or his daughter as receiver in six cases she handled.
Cassandra Robertson, director at the Center for Professional Ethics at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, noted the damaging impact of dishonest judges on the judicial branch, eroding trust in the system.
Celebrezze had previously conceded in court records to having affection for Dottore when she bypassed the court’s random assignment process to assign cases to her docket and subsequently appointed Dottore as a receiver. Dottore, a successful businessman, had also served as Celebrezze’s campaign treasurer during her successful 2008 campaign for judgeship.
The Cuyahoga County Council approved a $400,000 settlement on December 9 with former employee Georgeanna Semary, who accused Celebrezze of witness intimidation and retaliation after Semary provided The Marshall Project – Cleveland with billing invoices involving Dottore. This settlement was in addition to $250,000 the county paid in 2024 to cover Semary’s legal fees.
Celebrezze was also awaiting disciplinary action from the Ohio Supreme Court for funneling work to Dottore, with a state board recommending a two-year suspension in August.
Source: The Marshall Project
