Attorneys for Anthony Sowell accused Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold of bias after anonymous comments about the case posted at the Plain Dealer’s website were traced to Saffold’s email address.
Saffold denies making comments about the case, saying it was actually her 23 year old daughter. But whether she made the comments or not, Ohio Supreme Court acting chief justice Paul Pfiefer said it’s important to avoid even the appearance of bias.
Legal expert Geoff Mearns is the interim provost of Cleveland State University.
MEARNS: It isn’t about her conduct. It’s about the defendant’s right to a fair trial and the public’s interest in ensuring that a trial—particularly a capital murder trial—is conducted without any of these extraneous issues.
Mearns says the decision shouldn’t be perceived as a condemnation of Saffold. For now, it’s all about appearances.