Six Nominees for Ohio Supreme Court will be on the candidate list in November in three different races. TThe election results will determine the balance of the court and have a profound impact on a wide range of issues affecting the lives of Ohioans, from education and the environment to gerrymandering and elections to civil and reproductive health matters.property rights.
Depending on the outcome, the state Supreme Court could shift power to Democrats or Republicans could strengthen their position.
Republicans currently hold a 4-3 majority. If Democrats win all three races, the court will become a 4-3 Democratic court. If Republicans win all three races, the court will become a 6-1 Republican court.
In 2021, the Republican-controlled state legislature added party labels to previously nonpartisan races.
Donnelly vs. Shanahan
Incumbent Democratic Judge Michael P. Donnelly is running against Republican Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan.
According to her testimony, Shanahan has served on the Hamilton Court of Common Pleas since 2015. campaign website.
She was elected to the Hamilton County Municipal Court in 2011 and re-elected in 2013. Shanahan was a criminal prosecutor before taking office.
The 49-year-old earned a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University in 1995 and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati in 2000.
Donnelly was elected to Ohio Supreme Court 2018.
The 58-year-old previously served as a judge in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas from 2005 to 2018 and was also a judge in the Cuyahoga County Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Court.
He practiced civil law from 1997 to 2004 and served as a deputy Cuyahoga County prosecutor from 1992 to 1997. Donnelly served as Member of the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, 2007–2012.
Donnelly earned a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University in 1988 and a law degree from Cleveland State University in 1991.
Stewart v. Deters
Incumbent Democratic Judge Melody Stewart faces incumbent Republican Judge Joseph Deters, who decided not to seek his current seat and instead faced Stewart.
Stewart was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2018. and was the first black woman elected to the Ohio Supreme Court.
The 61-year-old has served on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals since 2006.
Before becoming a judge, she was an administrator for a health care management company, a music teacher, a civil litigator, a law school administrator, and a professor.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, a law degree from Cleveland State University, and a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University.
Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Deters to the Ohio Supreme Court in January 2023, and he is seeking a full term. Deters is the first Ohio Supreme Court justice in 30 years without prior judicial experience.
66 years antique before He served as longest serving prosecutor in Hamilton County from 1992 to 1999 and again from 2005 to 2023.
Deters was elected to the Ohio Treasurer position in 1998 and 2002. Deters resigned in 2004 amid a pay-to-play scandal in which Deters’ then-chief of staff, Matt Borges, pleaded guilty to misuse of public office. Deters was not implicated in that scandal.
Deters served as Hamilton County Clerk of the Court from 1988 to 1992 and was an assistant Hamilton County prosecutor for six years.
He earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Cincinnati. Deters and DeWines are family friends and have known each other for 30 years.
Forbes vs. Hawkins
Democratic candidate Lisa Forbes for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and Republican candidate Dan Hawkins for the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas are vying for the open seat in Deters County.
Forbes, 60 years antique, He previously worked in two different law firms whose origins date back to 1993. before becoming a judge in 2020. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University.
Hawkins, 48 years antique, was elected to Franklin County Common Pleas Court in 2018. Previously appointed and then elected to the Franklin County Municipal Court, he served as assistant prosecutor and Director of the Special Victims Division at the Franklin County District Attorney’s Officeme.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a law degree from The Ohio State University.
Questionnaire
The Ohio Capital Journal sent a questionnaire to all Ohio Supreme Court candidates, but only to Democratic candidates replies were sent back. Candidate responses to the survey questions have been abbreviated for brevity.
Why are you running for the Ohio Supreme Court?
Donnelly: “I am seeking re-election to build on all the progress I have made during my years of serving the people of Ohio, to ensure that my strong, independent voice continues to be heard on a Court that has become increasingly politicized, and to strengthen the Court’s status as an independent, co-equal branch of state government, authorized by the Constitution to hold the General Assembly and the executive officers accountable.”
Stewart: “I am running for re-election to the Supreme Court to continue serving as an elected jurist who is committed to the law and justice for all. I am also running for re-election to help make our courts and our judicial system more effective and efficient for the people they serve.”
Forbes: “I am running for the Ohio Supreme Court because I want to do my part to ensure that the highest court is fair, balanced and independent so that it serves as a firewall to protect our democracy and the rule of law.”
What would you like voters to know about you that they won’t learn from your biography?
Donnelly: “I’ve been a music lover since high school, especially classic rock and 80s music. I never thought I’d be in a band, but when I was 46 I met some guys at School of Rock. We’ve been playing together ever since in a band called Faith & Whiskey. Our motto is: “If you don’t have one, you better have the other.” We play covers, we do a lot benefits, including Jam for Justice, and we’ve actually gotten pretty good at it, if I may say so myself“I myself.”
Stewart: “In addition to being the most experienced appellate lawyer in the Supreme Court, I also have the best education, having a Ph.D. in addition to my bachelor’s and law degrees.”
Forbes: “I have the legal knowledge, community involvement, and work ethic to bring intellectual rigor and common sense to the Court so that our laws are applied fairly and equitably, enhancing people’s confidence in the courts.”
How would you characterize your judicial philosophy?
Donnelly: “I am an independent lawyer whose sole loyalty is to the Constitutions of the United States and Ohio and to the people who expect and deserve nothing less than equal treatment under the law. My commitment to independence is more important than ever at a time when the court has become increasingly politicized and driven by ideology rather than respect for precedent or impartial interpretation of the law.”
Stewart: “My legal philosophy is to apply the law as written, never get hung up on results, and never lose sight of common sense. If you have the law on your side, you should win.”
Forbes: “I approach every case with an open mind, not expecting any particular outcome. … When the statute is clear, I apply it as written; when it is ambiguous, I interpret it, using plain language as a starting point.”
Why are the Ohio Supreme Court elections so crucial and why should voters pay attention to them?
Donnelly: “In the coming months and years, cases involving reproductive rights, civil rights, human rights, and workers’ rights, racial justice, public safety, voting, access to the justice system, taxes and the economy, education, the environment, privacy, and other important issues will be heard and decided by the seven justices elected to the Court.”
Stewart: “The Ohio Supreme Court elections are so crucial because whoever sits on the court will be able to make key decisions on issues that affect our personal lives and liberties, our economic well-being, how candidates are chosen for public office, and a host of other crucial issues. The Supreme Court has the final say on constitutional issues.
Forbes: “The Ohio Supreme Court’s rulings can have a significant impact on every aspect of someone’s life, as history has shown. For example, even after 57 percent of voters enshrined reproductive rights in the Ohio Constitution last fall, our legislature has not repealed a single statute. Ohio’s leaders prefer that any existing regulations go through the courts. Who Ohio voters elect to our state’s highest court could determine the outcome of these cases and many other key laws.”
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