Judge’s Facebook Posts on Open Case Spur Disciplinary Complaint

An Ohio judge is accused of violating state judicial conduct rules for posting on Facebook inaccurate information about a contentious guardianship case he presided over, which included unfounded accusations that the woman at the center of the case was a victim of elder abuse.

Hamilton County Probate Judge Ralph E. Winkler posted twice in response to comments made in October 2022 by the woman’s son, according to a complaint brought by the Ohio State Bar Association. The woman, who suffers from dementia, had moved in 2016 from her home to an assisted living facility.

The complaint, filed Monday, said that ...