Former juvenile court judge Tracie Hunter caused an extraordinary scene in a Cincinnati courtroom yesterday when she was literally dragged away to jail to serve a six-month sentence for improperly obtaining information for her brother to help in a job dispute. The video shows Hunter refusing to move and being dragged across the courtroom floor.
Hunter was the first African American elected to the juvenile court. The case stems from a controversy involving her brother, Stephen Hunter, who worked as a youth corrections officer. Stephen Hunter was accused of striking a young offender on the job on July 7, 2013 and his superior recommended termination. Tracie Hunter then demanded information on the young offender and gave the information to her brother.
She was convicted in 2014 but has been filing challenges and appeals. Those appeals have been exhausted and Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Patrick Dinkelacker ordered her to be taken into custody. Hunter’s supporters erupted in anger. One was arrested in trying to fight her way to Hunter. That is when Hunter went limp and had to be dragged away.
Before being dragged off, Hunter declared “They need to drop these unrighteous and I believe unlawful charges against me.”