| ► WBNS-TV10, Columbus – 06/25/02 - Complaints filed against four Justices |
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WBNS-TV10, Columbus – June 25, 2002 - Complaints filed against four Justices A Columbus man, Friday, filed complaints against four Ohio Supreme Court Justices, accusing them of theft in office.
In all, David Palmer filed 23 complaints against the justices, including Chief Justice Thomas Moyer.
Palmer obtained dozens of public records of the justices' activity at the gas tanks. He says he found that four of them may have broken the law.
The complaints state that Chief Justice Thomas Moyer and Justices Andrew Douglas, Paul Pfeifer and Francis Sweeney defrauded the state, by repeatedly pumping more gasoline into state vehicles than those vehicles could actually hold.
Palmer told 10TV Eyewitness News that complaints concern "Billing the state for pumping as high as 29 gallons of fuel into a car whose fuel cap is 18 point five."
Records Palmer says he obtained from the state show that Justice Douglas' Buick Park Avenue, for example, holds 18 point five gallons of gas. But on June first, 2000, a B.P. invoice shows he pumped in 25 gallons. On June 16th, it was 29 gallons, billed to the state.
According to Palmer, "It means you're either pumping the gas into another vehicle, like an SUV or something, or pumping excess into another vehicle."
Justice Douglas told 10TV Eyewitness News by phone, "I have never done that. And the charge, in regards to me, is not only outrageous. This time, he's gone too far."
Chief Justice Moyer's office says it has no comment until it sees the complaints. And, Justices Sweeney and Pfeifer did not immediately return our calls.
Friday afternoon, David Palmer raised his right hand, and stated everything he alleged is true. The self-appointed "judiciary watchdog" says the charges are not personal, just necessary.
Over the past six years, Palmer complained about at least 80 judges to the Disciplinary Counsel. But, before anything can go forward on *this* case, a judge must decide if there is probable cause. That decision will take place on Monday.
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