Former Judge Hunter Ordered to Pay $34,000 in Court Costs

Former Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter began a six-month stint in jail this week for a 2014 felony conviction after a nearly five-year battle in county, state and federal courts.

But time won't be her only penalty: She'll also have to pay $34,000 in court costs related to her case, according to documents from the courts.

Hunter, a Democrat who won a hotly-contested 2010 election to the Republican-dominated court after suing the Hamilton County Board of Elections for a recount, was indicted in 2014 on nine felony counts related to allegedly backdating court records, improperly using a court credit card and other charges. In the end, jurors agreed on one of those counts — a fourth-degree felony for supplying her brother with confidential documents related to a juvenile inmate he struck while working as a juvenile court employee. Three jurors asked to change their votes after the verdict was read, but courts denied a motion for a retrial.

Then-Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Norbert Nadel ordered Hunter to pay the court fees during her sentencing. The court says Hunter owes $23,000 in transcript costs, more than $6,400 in jury fees and more than $3,500 in clerk fees. Court records show almost 200 subpoenas were issued in the case by both sides. Each cost $4, plus various fees for delivery of the documents.

Overall, Hunter's case cost $650,000 in legal fees by private special prosecutors, according to the county.

Read more: https://www.citybeat.com/news/blog/21079615/former-hamilton-county-judge-hunter-ordered-to-pay-34000-in-court-costs