CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court's Board of Professional Conduct has postponed week seven of Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Angela Stokes' disciplinary trial, which was scheduled to begin today, to allow the parties to discuss a possible settlement with a mediator.

Stokes' courtroom behavior is the subject of an ongoing trial triggered by a complaint filed in 2013 by the Ohio Supreme Court's Disciplinary Counsel. The complaint accuses Stokes of abusing court staff, lawyers and defendants and of straining court resources.

The Board of Professional Conduct appointed a three-member panel of Stokes' peers from outside of Cuyahoga County to hear the case. The panel runs the hearing like a trial, which is held periodically rather than continuously. The trial began in February.

The panel's chairman, Stephen Rodeheffer, has expressed concern several times during the trial that the case is becoming unwieldy, noting the volume of exhibits, numerous witnesses and slow pace of testimony. But he did not order the two sides to participate in mediation. Stokes' defense team and lawyers for the Ohio Supreme Court requested it. The two sides tried in February before the trial to reach a settlement, but they failed to reach a deal. The trial will resume in August if settlement talks fail again, according to court papers.

During the trial, the disciplinary counsel has shown video of Stokes yelling at lawyers and defendants. Court employees have also testified that Stokes' behavior was unpredictable and that her courtroom moved slowly compared to other courtrooms, keeping defendants, lawyers and staff from their other duties.

Stokes defense has argued that Stokes was a conscientious judge who took her time to ensure the she made the right rulings, which remain unchallenged. Her defense also has made the charge that court officials, including the former and current administrative judges, led a conspiracy against Stokes because they do not like her.

The Ohio Supreme Court has suspended Stokes' license until the case is resolved. Stokes is not being paid during her absence from the bench, but the City of Cleveland is paying for her defense because she is still employee of the city.

Stokes has recently rehired Richard Alkire, an attorney with whom she earlier parted ways. He is supplementing her current legal team, led by Larry Zukerman. The Northeast Ohio Media Group has asked Cleveland's law department for an accounting of the outside legal costs thus far and will post the information when it becomes available.

Ultimately, the Ohio Supreme Court's justices will consider the board's findings and decide Stokes' fate.