The Ohio Supreme Court will decide if former Campbell Law Director Brian Macala should be dealt more than a reprimand for forging signatures on court documents.

The Ohio Professional Conduct Board recommended a public reprimand for Macala after learning that he forged signatures during an estate issue in the Probate Courts. The Mahoning County Bar Association asks the justices to suspend Macala from practicing law for a year.

Although the bar recommends that the suspension be stayed, allowing Macala to continue his practice, bar attorneys argue that a stayed suspension sends an appropriate message to Macala and other attorneys that this behavior can lead to an actual suspension if they continue their dishonest practices.

According to the Board of Conduct, Macala engaged in misconduct when he missed several court deadlines and even forged the signatures of an executor of the state and four beneficiaries in 2020.

Macala admitted to forging the signatures, according to the complaint filed by the beneficiaries.

The board found that Macala's misconduct did not negatively impact those involved or alter the outcome of the estate case.

The former law director also faces charges of theft and criminal mischief filed against him in November for allegedly stealing an election opponent's campaign leaflets from someone's front porch.

Macala, who lost an election bid for Campbell Municipal Judge in November, is scheduled for a pre-trial in the theft case on March 15.