Simon L. Leis Jr.


Simon L. Leis Jr. is a lawyer and local official from Cincinnati, Ohio. He served as County Prosecutor for Hamilton County, a judge in the Court of Common Pleas, and the county sheriff.

Biography

Leis is the son of Simon Leis Sr., a judge in Common Pleas Court. The younger Leis graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1952. After graduating from Xavier University, he served in the U.S. Marines, then studied law in night courses at the Salmon P. Chase College of Law. He was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law as an assistant in the prosecutor's office.
In 1971 Simon was appointed County Prosecutor to replace Melvin Reuger, who had resigned to become a judge. He won re-election three times and served until 1983. His term as prosecutor was marked by several events. His 1974 disclosures during a prostitution investigation forced the resignation of City Councilman Jerry Springer.
Leis led two high-profile trials, both times earning a conviction, and both later overturned by appellate courts. In 1976 he convicted Cincinnati's Police Chief, Carl Goodin, for taking kick-backs. In 1977 he convicted Larry Flynt, the publisher of Hustler magazine, on obscenity charges. This second case was the basis for a 1996 movie, The People vs. Larry Flynt, in which his role was played by political operative James Carville.
Leis retired as Hamilton County Sheriff in 2012, and was succeeded by Jim Neil.