Council authorizes outside prosecutor for criminal case after conflict-of-interest concerns

University Heights city council authorized Beechwood prosecutor Natalie Soupler to handle a criminal prosecution in Shaker Heights Municipal Court (case number 2025CRB00669) because of a conflict of interest involving the city's prosecutor and a related pending civil lawsuit. Brian (city law department) described the request and said the city seeks a formal council authorization so the outside prosecutor’s appointment cannot be challenged later in court. "In the past, defendants have argued that the person replacing our prosecutor wasn't properly appointed, so they didn't have the authority to prosecute," Brian said.

The motion authorizes payment of $175 per hour to Ms. Soupler for time spent preparing for and conducting a jury trial if necessary; Brian noted that the $175 hourly rate matches what would have been paid to the city's usual outside trial counsel had a jury trial been required. Councilmembers asked whether an executive session was required to discuss case details; other members recommended locating public court records for charge information. One councilmember noted the defendant’s charges (as available on the Shaker Heights court website) included domestic violence and domestic menacing, and the law director said the city’s interest stems from a related prosecution tied to a pending civil suit. The council voted by roll call to authorize the outside prosecutor.