Ohio’s political machine thrives on backroom deals, but the latest scandal involving Governor Mike DeWine, Supreme Court Justice Patrick “Pat” DeWine, Justice Joseph “Joe” Deters, senior judicial attorney Mary Stier, and Public Utilities Commissioner Dennis Deters takes cronyism to a new low. This isn’t just favoritism—it’s a calculated pay-to-play scheme riddled with potential crimes and flagrant violations of Ohio ethics laws, the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, and the Code of Judicial Conduct. The evidence suggests a conspiracy to trade jobs, appointments, and judicial seats for personal and political gain. Let’s break it down.

The Players and the Plot

Joe Deters, a career politician with zero judicial experience, became an Ohio Supreme Court justice in January 2023—the first in 30 years to join the court without ever wielding a gavel. His ticket? A decades-long alliance with the DeWine family, lubricated by favors, cash, and a knack for cleaning up messes. Governor Mike DeWine appointed Deters, citing trust: “I know him. I trust him.” That trust, it seems, was built on a foundation of quid pro quo.

Enter Mary Stier, Pat DeWine’s senior staff attorney turned girlfriend. In January 2019, as Pat faced a divorce alleging adultery (which he denied), Deters hired Stier as an assistant prosecutor in Hamilton County’s appellate division for $100,000 a year. By January 7, 2023—the day Deters took his Supreme Court oath—Stier was back at the court as his senior judicial attorney. Pat DeWine defends this, claiming Deters “trusted her expertise.” Expertise, or a convenient favor?

Then there’s Dennis Deters, Joe’s younger brother, a political insider with his own DeWine ties. A University of Notre Dame graduate (B.A. in English and Government) and University of Cincinnati law school alum, Dennis has spent years climbing Ohio’s political ladder. He served as a Colerain Township Trustee (2009–2016), a Hamilton County Commissioner (2016), and a judge on the Ohio First District Court of Appeals (2017–2019), appointed by then-Governor John Kasich to replace Pat DeWine after his Supreme Court election. Dennis lost his judicial re-election bid in 2018 to Candace Crouse, but Mike DeWine swooped in, appointing him to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) in March 2019 to finish an unexpired term. Reappointed in 2021, Dennis now serves a term ending April 10, 2026, overseeing utility regulation—a cushy gig for a loyal ally.

The Crimes: Bribery, Misuse of Office, and Conspiracy

This isn’t just shady—it’s potentially criminal under Ohio law:

Bribery (Ohio Revised Code § 2921.02): Offering, giving, or receiving anything of value to influence a public official’s actions is a felony. Deters’ hiring of Stier in 2019, followed by his Supreme Court appointment, smells like a bribe—her job as payback for his loyalty, and his judicial seat as the ultimate reward from Mike DeWine.

Misuse of Public Office (Ohio Revised Code § 2921.42): Public officials can’t use their authority to secure benefits for themselves or others. Mike DeWine appointing Deters brothers Joe and Dennis, and Pat DeWine securing an internship for his son, all suggest illegal self-dealing.

Conspiracy (Ohio Revised Code § 2923.01): If Mike DeWine, Pat DeWine, and the Deters brothers coordinated these moves to trade favors for power, they could face conspiracy charges—a felony carrying up to 18 months in prison per count.

Ethics Laws Violated

Ohio’s ethics laws are clear, and these players appear to have trampled them:

Ohio Ethics Law (Ohio Revised Code § 102.03): Public officials can’t use their positions to secure jobs or benefits for associates unless it’s in the public interest. Joe Deters hiring Stier, and Mike DeWine appointing Joe and Dennis to plum posts, violate this statute. Penalties include fines up to $1,000 and jail time up to 6 months.

Conflict of Interest (Ohio Revised Code § 102.03(D)): Pat DeWine’s relationship with Stier, coupled with her job hops under Joe Deters, screams conflict. He stood to gain personally from Deters’ actions, breaching this law.

Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct

For Stier, a licensed attorney, her role raises red flags under the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct:

Rule 8.4(c) – Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit, or Misrepresentation: If Stier knowingly benefited from a corrupt deal between Joe Deters and the DeWines, she’s complicit in deceit. Disciplinary action could include suspension or disbarment.

Rule 1.7 – Conflict of Interest: Her personal relationship with Pat DeWine while working for Joe Deters creates a conflict, undermining her duty to serve impartially.

Code of Judicial Conduct Violations

Pat DeWine and Joe Deters, as justices, are bound by Ohio’s Code of Judicial Conduct. They’ve shredded it:

Canon 1 – Upholding Integrity and Independence: Pat’s internship request for his son and Joe’s hiring of Stier undermine judicial integrity. Both face potential censure or removal.

Canon 2 – Avoiding Impropriety: The appearance of favoritism here is overwhelming. Joe’s Supreme Court seat looks like a payoff, and Pat’s defense of Stier’s hiring reeks of bias.

Canon 3 – Impartiality: Pat’s personal stake in Stier’s career taints his impartiality, while Joe’s lack of judicial experience—coupled with his DeWine ties—casts doubt on his fitness for the bench.

The Favor Factory: A Timeline of Corruption

Here’s how Mike DeWine, Pat DeWine, Joe Deters, Dennis Deters, and their cronies allegedly rigged the system:

2017: Pat DeWine asks Joe Deters, then Hamilton County Prosecutor, to give his son an internship. Joe delivers, sparking an ethics complaint (later dismissed). Violation: misuse of office and Canon 2.

2019: Joe hires Stier as Pat’s divorce unfolds, a $100,000 lifeline amid personal turmoil. Mike DeWine appoints Dennis Deters to the PUCO after his judicial election loss. Crimes: bribery, misuse of office. Ethics breaches: § 102.03.

2023: Mike DeWine hands Joe Deters a Supreme Court seat; Joe brings Stier along. Payoff complete. Crimes: conspiracy, bribery. Judicial violations: Canons 1, 2, 3.

Add in Joe Deters’ campaign donations to both DeWines—generous contributions noted by Cleveland.com—and the picture is clear: cash and favors bought influence.

Deters’ Dirty Past: Joe and Dennis

Joe Deters is no stranger to scandal. In 2004, he quit as Ohio Treasurer after associates Matt Borges and another aide pleaded guilty in pay-to-play schemes. Borges, Joe’s chief of staff and fundraiser, admitted to misusing public office. In 2023, Borges was convicted of felony racketeering in Ohio’s billion-dollar bribery scandal. Joe’s history suggests he’s comfortable in corrupt company—yet Mike DeWine still trusted him with justice.

Dennis Deters, meanwhile, has ridden the family name and DeWine connections. Before his PUCO role, he worked as a litigation attorney at Robbins, Kelly, Patterson & Tucker, defending local governments and police. His judicial stint was brief and ended in electoral defeat, but his appointment to PUCO—where he now serves on national utility boards like NARUC’s Committee on Critical Infrastructure—shows the DeWine gravy train keeps rolling.

Implicating the Guilty

Mike DeWine: Orchestrated appointments to reward loyalty, violating § 102.03 and risking bribery charges.

Pat DeWine: Leveraged his position for family gain, breaching Canons 1-3 and § 102.03(D).

Joe Deters: Traded jobs for a judicial robe, flouting ethics laws, judicial conduct, and possibly committing bribery and conspiracy.

Mary Stier: Played along, profiting from conflicts and potentially violating Rule 8.4(c).

Dennis Deters: Benefited from nepotism, courtesy of Mike DeWine’s misuse of power, breaching § 102.03.

Ohio Deserves Better

This isn’t about personal lives—it’s about public trust. Mike DeWine, Pat DeWine, Joe Deters, Mary Stier, and Dennis Deters have turned Ohio’s highest court and public offices into a cesspool of cronyism, where qualifications don’t matter, but connections do. The laws and codes they’ve allegedly broken demand accountability: investigations, prosecutions, and disciplinary action. Ohioans shouldn’t have to wonder if justice is for sale.

Charles Tingler is an investigative journalist exposing corruption and holding the powerful accountable. Reach him at charlesltingler1991@gmail.com or 419.890.3625.