A former county official in Ohio recently asked the state Supreme Court to reinstate his position and kick his replacement out of office.

Yet according to WCPO in Cincinnati, Ohio's highest judicial body rejected his request in a decision this week. 

Former auditor's felony conviction was reversed on appeal

The case was brought by former Butler County auditor Roger Reynolds, who was convicted in December of 2022 on one count of unlawful interest in a public contract, which is a fourth-degree felony.

Reynolds had been indicted earlier in the year after he allegedly asked Lakota Schools officials to use $750,000 of unspent fees for a golf academy at the Four Bridges Golf Course, where he lives.

The felony conviction prevented him from continuing his term as Butler County auditor, and he was replaced by Nancy Nix.

However, Reynolds' conviction was subsequently overturned on appeal, something which prompted him to ask that Nix be ousted so he could reclaim his office.

In his lawsuit, he asserted that Nix is guilty of "usurping, intruding into, or unlawfully holding or exercising a public office."

One of seven justices dissented

All but one of Ohio's Supreme Court justices refused to reinstate Reynolds, with the lone voice of disagreement coming from Justice Michael P. Donnelly.

"Because Reynolds is competent to hold office and because he was democratically elected by the citizens of Butler County to hold the office of Butler County auditor through March 2027,"  Donnelly wrote in his dissent.

Reynolds maintained the office was rightfully his, despite his previous felony conviction saying Nix is, “usurping, intruding into, or unlawfully holding or exercising a public office” and asked the court to order her to return it to him. https://t.co/XWQXVCE4Ih

— WCPO 9 (@WCPO) September 26, 2024

"I would conclude that continued service by the appointed auditor, respondent, Nancy Nix, would contravene the will of Butler County’s voters and that reinstating Reynolds to his elected position would safeguard their interests," the justice added.

Nix claimed that Reynolds has "lost his soul"

For her part, Nix expressed gratitude that the state Supreme Court ruled in her favor. WCPO quoted her as saying, "Wow, what a relief."

"I'm so happy, this has been so stressful for the office and myself and my family," the Butler County auditor went on to declare before complaining that Reynolds has "lost his soul.

"We’re thrilled to put it behind us and move on. We always knew the law was on our side and we had faith the Supreme Court justices would see the lack of reason in his arguments," she added.