James Piergies Removed

James Piergies, a Montgomery County, Ohio Municipal Court judge, was removed from the bench in August 2024 after being indicted alongside Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Mike Foley in a corruption case brought by the Ohio Auditor of State. Investigators found Piergies had approved approximately $200,000 in transfers to the Clerk of Courts office — the workplace of his son, Robert — raising questions about self-dealing and improper use of public funds. Piergies faced felony counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract. Piergies and Foley initially pleaded not guilty to the felony charges. In May 2025, Piergies pleaded guilty to obstructing official business in connection with the case.