A Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge is suing most of her fellow judges and several county employees in federal court.
Judge Kimberly Cocroft is alleging racial, gender and employment discrimination. Cocroft filed the lawsuit Tuesday for what she said were years of mistreatment by court officials and other judges.
Cocroft has been a judge for 15 years. Her accusations range in severity over several years in what she describes as "timely offenses and also continuing violations."
Cocroft is representing herself in her lawsuit in the United States District Court of Southern Ohio.
The lawsuit is more than 100 pages long and includes extensive details that Cocroft provides documentation of. However, at some points in the lawsuit Cocroft said the allegations were "to my knowledge" or "upon information and belief."
Some accusations include Cocroft alleging the court didn't place her photograph in the court lobby for a couple of weeks after she began a leadership role. In another accusation, Cocroft alleges court administrators did not offer condolences or give her adequate personal space after her uncle passed away.
More serious accusations include allegations that two white male judges called Cocroft difficult to work with, and then showed her a list of prominent Black women who they said she should try to emulate.
Cocroft also alleges fellow judges tried to blackmail her into resigning from her role.
One of the accusations alleged she and her all Black staff were treated differently by white court administrators and judges because of their race. Cocroft also alleges her staff have not received the same training as previous staffers who were white.
Corcroft also claims court administrators, staff and judges deleted pertinent public records, including messages that were sent via Microsoft Teams.
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judges Andy Miller, Andria Noble, Bill Sperlazza and Jaiza Page are the only sitting judges not named in the lawsuit.
Cocroft is asking for a jury to award her damages and issue an injunction to stop the alleged behaviors in the court.
