---
title: "Russell D. Kegley | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/russell-d-kegley"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Russell D. Kegley

Portsmouth Municipal Court · Municipal Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Portsmouth Municipal Court
- State: Ohio
- Role: Municipal Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing exhibits

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance tells courts to include instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses when remote-hearing information is sent to participants.

Evidence excerpt: Instructions for submitting exhibits or notifying the court of witnesses.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing ground rules

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance recommends advance ground rules for documents, exhibits, screen sharing, and pre-marking exhibits for remote hearings.

Evidence excerpt: Documents: Share any documents/exhibits that will be reviewed in advance. Use the share screen function while documents are being discussed during the hearing. Request that the documents are pre-marked for exhibit purposes.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote recording

Scope: statewide

Ohio's statewide virtual-court guidance states that litigants, attorneys, and the public should be instructed not to record the hearing.

Evidence excerpt: The court should instruct the litigants, attorneys, and the public to not record the hearing.

[Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Official roster](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Ohio Judicial Conference Directory official judicial roster](https://www.ohiojudges.org/directory/ojc-directory/)
- [Virtual Public Access to Ohio Court Proceedings](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/virtual-court/)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Russell D. Kegley has been a municipal court judge in Portsmouth, Ohio, since January 2003
- This action violated multiple provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct, including prohibitions against allowing family relationships to influence judicial decisions, abusing the prestige of judicial office, and failing to promote public confidence in the judiciary Following a complaint filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel in June 2024, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a six-month fully stayed suspension for Judge Kegley in March 2025

### Education



### Additional information

- In May 2023, Judge Kegley became involved in a high-profile ethical controversy when his son, Case Kegley, was arrested for domestic violence and resisting arrest
- He serves alongside Judge Steven L. Mowery, and together they established court policies, including a bond schedule for domestic violence cases that requires defendants to remain in custody until their initial court appearance
- Long-serving municipal judge whose career has been marked by a significant ethical controversy involving his son’s legal case