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D. Dean Evans
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D. Dean Evans was the judge for the Gallia County Court of Common Pleas in Gallipolis, Ohio. He joined the court on June 12, 2001. Evans was re-elected in November 2010 to a new six-year term that commenced on January 1, 2011, and expired on December 31, 2016.[1]
Elections
2010
Evans was re-elected to the Gallia County Court of Common Pleas after running unopposed.[2]
Education
Evans received his undergraduate degree from Marshall University and his J.D. from Capital University Law School.[3]
Noteworthy cases
Sixth Circuit says judges have immunity (2014)
Judge D. Dean Evans was sued by an attorney, Robert Bright, after the two disagreed about whether the judge should accept a plea deal. Judge Evans had refused to accept the plea. Bright then filed a motion asking the court to accept the plea deal of his client, who initially refused the deal but almost immediately changed his mind. Bright accused the judge of abusing his discretion in the matter. In return, Judge Evans filed a complaint with the Ohio Supreme Court, removed Bright from the case upon which they disagreed and also removed Bright from every other felony case to be heard in his courtroom. In total, Judge Evans removed Bright from 70 cases. Defense Corp., the employer of Bright, fired him a month later because he could no longer represent clients before the judge, who is the only one hearing criminal cases in the county. Bright sued not only Judge Evans for costing him his job, but the county in which Judge Evans sits on the bench and his former employer, Defense Corp.
The first judge to hear the case, Judge James Graham of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, refused to dismiss it, claiming that Judge Evans acted “outside his jurisdiction” and was thus not entitled to judicial immunity.[4] Judge Graham dismissed the claims against the county and Defense Corp., however.
The case was taken to the Sixth Circuit, and a three-judge panel consisting of Helene White, Karen Moore and Bernice Donald, reversed Judge Graham's ruling. Judge Moore wrote for the panel that, while Judge Evans acted “petty, unethical, and unworthy of his office,” judicial immunity still applied.[4] They also found that because Judge Evans’ court had subject matter jurisdiction over criminal proceedings in the county, he was not acting outside of his jurisdiction. Further, the panel indicated that it wished to protect judicial immunity for the sake of the entire judicial community. The panel affirmed the dismissal of Bright’s claims against the county and Defense, Corp.
Articles:
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ohio Judiciary, "2010 Unofficial General Election Results"
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "2010 Court of Common Pleas candidates"
- ↑ Martindale.com, "Judge Profile: D. Dean Evans"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 [www.courthousenews.com/2014/06/06/68527.htm Courthouse News, "Despite 'Unethical' Acts, Judge Has Immunity," June 6, 2014]
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio
State courts:
Ohio Supreme Court • Ohio District Courts of Appeal • Ohio Courts of Common Pleas • Ohio County Courts • Ohio Municipal Courts • Ohio Court of Claims
State resources:
Courts in Ohio • Ohio judicial elections • Judicial selection in Ohio
