Judge Took Gifts From Rose Lawyers, Paper Says

The Cincinnati judge presiding over the lawsuit Pete Rose brought against baseball accepted more than $1,500 in contributions in his two most recent campaigns from attorneys in two law firms that represent Rose, records show.

The Philadelphia Inquirer in today’s editions, citing election records, reported that during his 1982 and 1984 races for Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, Judge Norbert A. Nadel accepted 26 contributions from attorneys in the law firms representing the Cincinnati Reds manager.

By contrast, attorneys in the Cincinnati law firm representing major league baseball in the case made two contributions, totaling $150, to Nadel during those contests, according to the records.

A spokeswoman for Nadel--his court constable, Kathy O’Mara--said today that Nadel would not comment “at this time” on the newspaper’s report.

The contributions from the two law firms representing Rose were individually small, ranging up to $200. In his two races, according to campaign reports, Nadel received 690 contributions totaling almost $63,500.

Two of the contributors in the firm representing Rose said their support was minor and had nothing to do with Nadel’s ruling Sunday, which temporarily blocked commissioner Bart Giamatti from conducting a hearing on whether Rose gambled on baseball games. Nadel will hold another hearing July 6 on whether to extend his order, based on his finding that Giamatti had prejudged Rose.

Some legal experts said the contributions give Nadel’s ruling the appearance of partiality or conflict.