On Friday, August 29, 2025, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a show cause order to attorney Timothy Lee Nolan regarding disciplinary action stemming from his permanent disbarment in Kentucky. The order compels Nolan to demonstrate within 20 days why identical or comparable discipline should not be imposed in Ohio.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Timothy Lee Nolan,” with case number 2025-1112.
The action by the Ohio Supreme Court follows the filing of a certified copy of the Kentucky Supreme Court’s April 24, 2025, order permanently disbarring Nolan. This filing was made by disciplinary counsel of the Ohio Supreme Court, triggering the show cause order.
In Kentucky, Nolan’s disbarment came as a result of a motion he filed to resign under the terms of permanent disbarment, which the Kentucky Supreme Court granted. This motion was made in light of criminal charges in Campbell County, Kentucky, dating back to 2017. The charges included multiple felony counts, many of which involved allegations of a sexual nature, with some victims being minors.
Nolan eventually pleaded guilty to twenty-one counts on March 8, 2019, after negotiations with the prosecution. These counts included four felony counts of Promoting Human Trafficking of a Minor—Commercial Sexual Activity, one felony count of Unlawful Transaction with a Minor—Controlled Substance, and one felony count of Unlawful Transaction with a Minor Under 18—Controlled Substance. He also pled guilty to eight misdemeanor counts of Criminal Attempt Human Trafficking of an Adult—Commercial Sexual Activity, three felony counts of Human Trafficking—Commercial Sexual Activity, one felony count of Unlawful Transaction with a Minor Under 16, Controlled Substance, one felony count of Criminal Attempt Human Trafficking of a Minor—Commercial Sexual Activity, one misdemeanor count of Unlawful Transaction with a Minor, 3rd degree, and one misdemeanor count of Prostitution.
Prior to his guilty plea, the Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) had initiated disciplinary proceedings against Nolan, leading to his temporary suspension from the practice of law on May 24, 2018.
Nolan’s convictions were later affirmed by the Court of Appeals in Nolan v. Commonwealth, and the Supreme Court of Kentucky denied Nolan’s motion for discretionary review on August 16, 2023. At the time of his motion for permanent disbarment, Nolan was serving a twenty-year prison sentence at Northpoint Training Center in Burgin, Kentucky, with an additional five years of conditional discharge upon the expiration of his sentence. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 Human Trafficking Victims Services Fee and reimburse $7,000 to Public Advocacy for his representation.
The Kentucky Supreme Court noted that Nolan’s crimes constituted violations of SCR 3.130(8.4)(b), which defines professional misconduct for a lawyer as committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer.
The Ohio Supreme Court’s order stipulates that all documents filed in this case must comply with the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, including requirements for form, number, and timeliness of filings. The court also stated that all case documents are subject to Sup.R. 44 through 47, which govern access to court records.
Nolan is a former judge from Kentucky, a past leader in the Republican Party, and the former chairman of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in Campbell County, Kentucky.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
