Recusal Rules Strained When AG and Justice are Father and Son

Like many proud politicians, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine posted a picture online of himself being sworn in while standing next to his son.

But unlike countless similar photos, the son wasn’t just standing next to the father—he was administering the oath of office in a judge’s robe.

An ethics complaint now pending before a three-judge panel claims that Ohio Supreme Court Justice Patrick DeWine should have recused himself from cases brought by the Attorney General’s office—a step the justice has taken only in limited circumstances.

While Mike DeWine’s term-limited tenure as attorney general is up this year, the court’s ...