Judge delays decision in case of fired Ohio Dems

DAYTON (AP) — A federal judge has delayed a decision whether to reinstate two Democratic elections officials who claim they were wrongfully fired by Ohio’s Republican secretary of state.

U.S. District Judge Walter Rice in Dayton had been expected to rule Tuesday, but is now slated to issue an opinion Wednesday or Thursday.

Rice is considering claims from ex-Montgomery County elections board members Dennis Lieberman and Thomas Ritchie Sr.

The Democrats say their firing by Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted violated their constitutional rights and had a “chilling effect” on other elections officials in the state.

Husted accused Lieberman and Ritchie of “knowingly and willingly violating Ohio elections laws,” by voting for weekend hours for early voters after he issued a directive limiting voting hours to weekdays in all counties.