The Ohio Supreme Court has suspended the law license of Massillon Municipal Judge Edward Elum for six months. That’s based on two cases in which the court said Elum misbehaved.

The first was a case of a parole violator, whom Elum took into his courtroom without his attorney or prosecutors and berated publicly. He then modified the terms of the parolees release  – unilaterally.

In the second case, Elum is accused on interfering with an internal Massillon police investigation of an officer accused of sending lewd photos and texts to a woman he had arrested. Elum ordered the former police chief to turn over copies of the texts and photos to him under the threat of contempt of court.

In ordering the six-month suspension, the high court followed the recommendation of the Board of Commissioners of Grievances and Discipline, which found Elum violated the rules that require judges to be patient, dignified and courteous. But the court also stayed the suspension because of Elum’s 35-year history, lack of selfish motive and full disclosure of his misbehavior.