jennifer brunner
Ohio Supreme Court decision clears the path for Preble County solar farms
Two Preble County solar farms got the go ahead from Ohio’s Supreme Court last week, but the case may prove to be more consequential than the dispute it settled. Writing for the majority, Justice Pat DeWine staked out a position that seemingly asserts judicial authority over state agency decisions. It reiterates and extends a doctrine […]
Ohio Chamber won’t discuss its allies in effort to lock down state Constitution
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is supporting a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that has huge implications for such issues as abortion, gun control, and even democracy itself. But Steve Stivers, president and CEO of the chamber, isn’t willing to talk about those things as his organization joins the effort to make it much […]
Ohio Supreme Court races will determine whether Republican gerrymandering gets rubber-stamped
What could be more bitterly ironic than Republican Ohio Supreme Court justices being elected in 2022 in reflection of the 54-46 differential of average Ohio voter patterns, and then that new partisan Republican court rubber-stamping gerrymandered Statehouse and Congressional districts that give the GOP undue supermajority advantages that far out-kick the same differential? That might […]
Ohio Bar condemns ad attacking Democratic state Supreme Court nominees
The Ohio Bar Association is urging the Republican State Leadership Committee to take down a campaign ad criticizing the three Democratic state supreme court nominees. In a letter signed by campaign advertising committee chair Paul Hervey, they argued the ad “serves to erode public trust and confidence in the judiciary.” It’s another example of Republican […]
Ohio GOP leaders push U.S. Supreme Court to give them free rein to rig elections with gerrymandering
All the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The ruling party in Ohio is appealing for absolute power to rig federal elections in the state. Ohio Republicans want the Ohio Supreme Court removed as an arbiter of constitutional compliance for congressional district maps that break all the rules of fairness. They don’t give a damn […]
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice candidates have very different backgrounds, ideologies, priorities
The following article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. The Ohio Supreme Court sprung into the national spotlight during the now-going-on-one-year redistricting battle. […]
Healthy public debate is the essence of democracy
Most folks think of the Acropolis and the Parthenon when they think of the democracy of ancient Athens, but those were places of worship, which some do conflate with politics these days. It was on another hill, the Pnyx, where Athenian democracy grinded forward with all its inherent messiness. The Pynx was where, as early […]
Ohio Debate Commission announces gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and Chief Justice debates
The Ohio Debate Commission announced its plans Monday for the U.S. Senate, governor, and chief justice of the state supreme court races. The Democrats in all three contests plan to attend. The Republicans haven’t signed on yet. The commission’s schedule includes a gubernatorial debate Oct. 10 and a U.S. Senate debate Oct. 12. They plan […]
The race for Ohio Supreme Court chief justice is on
2022 race could prove complicated for Ohio Democrats At least two justices on the Ohio Supreme Court are eyeing the chief justice position and plan to campaign for the top judicial seat in 2022. Democrat Jennifer Brunner and Republican Patrick DeWine are planning to run for chief justice next year. These two, and potentially another […]
Ohio Supreme Court: One incumbent looks to remain, another looks to be unseated
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy looks to have won reelection in unofficial results early Wednesday morning, while Justice Judith French looks headed for defeat by Democratic challenger Jennifer Brunner. If this result holds as is expected, Republican justices will hold a 4-3 advantage on the state high court. With Brunner’s win, Democrats add to […]
Ohio Supreme Court candidates talk impartiality, inequity
The roles Ohio Supreme Court justices should avoid are just as important as the roles they do play, according to justices and the judges vying for two spots on the state’s highest court. In a recent forum hosted by the Ohio Debate Commission, Justice Sharon Kennedy, Justice Judith French, and their challengers, Cuyahoga Court of […]
Profiles: Ohio Supreme Court seats up in contested races
Two seats on the Ohio Supreme Court are up in November’s election. The six-year terms on the state’s highest court are held by two longtime incumbents, and contested by two judicial veterans with experience vying for seats on the court or governmental positions. French v. Brunner Judith French French has been a justice with the […]