The Akron Bar Association is getting political by setting up a committee to review complaints and ask judicial candidates to sign a pledge to run a clean campaign.

Jack Weisensell, president of the Akron Bar Association, tells the Beacon Journal that the purpose of the Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee is to deter negative campaigning and to make sure campaigns are fair and honest.

Judicial campaigns are hot items and can get pretty negative. Municipal judges in Akron recently have made headlines over cases lately, including the resignation of one magistrate.

On the web: www.ohio.com

The Akron Bar Association requests Copley Police documents involving an Akron municipal court public defender.

AkronNewsNow.com reported on Tuesday that Catherine Loya, a public defender, would be re-assigned following a Feb. 5 police report from Copley that indicated she refused a breathalyzer test when found in a car with Akron Municipal Court Judge Joy Oldfield. A Copley police officer reported the vehicle smelled of alcohol.

The Beacon Journal reports police documents regarding the incident are now in the hands of the Akron Bar. Any investigation by the association would be a private manner and findings could eventually be passed on to the Ohio Supreme Court.

On Tuesday, City Prosecutor Doug Powley questioned a potential conflict on reports from the Beacon Journal that stated Oldfield provided a ride to work for Loya following the incident. Loya lost her license to drive pending a citation for physical control of a vehicle and refusing the test.

Powley says he has reviewed the allegations with his courtroom prosecutor and has been assured that there has been "no adverse results" during the time that Judge Oldfield served in the courtroom.

The newspaper reports Oldfield's attorney admits she had been drinking that night, but John Hill says she was not drunk. He told the Beacon Journal on Sunday that the judge is "dumbfounded and incredibly upset" by the report, and there is "no unusual or inappropriate relationship" with Loya.

Previous Coverage: 

Public Defender Reassigned Following Allegations

Akron Judge Center of Police Report Flap