Ohio Supreme Court
Ohio redistricting advocates eye ballot after disappointment in court
After the Ohio Supreme Court put a damper on efforts to challenge the current Statehouse redistricting plan, anti-gerrymandering advocates are moving on, with their sights on redistricting reform via the ballot box. Those supporting reformed redistricting in Ohio that would eliminate the elected official-led Ohio Redistricting Commission with an independent panel of state residents took […]
Ohio Supreme Court dismisses redistricting challenge, leaving Statehouse maps in place
In a drastic change from previous rulings, a partisan majority on the Ohio Supreme Court chose to leave Statehouse redistricting maps in place for 2024 and beyond, denying a challenge to the constitutionality of the newest maps. In a 4-3 ruling released Monday evening, right-wing justices on the court pointed to the bipartisan support of […]
As potential hurdles to abortion amendment proposed, advocates ready to keep up the fight
The legislative back-and-forth regarding reproductive rights continues to sow uncertainty in Ohio, but advocates who worked to get a constitutional amendment in place say are ready to continue the fight. Shortly after Issue 1 passed with almost 57% of the vote in the November general election, Republican legislators were already pledging to fight against the […]
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 […]
Countering Ohio redistricting challenge, commission members discredit anti-gerrymandering arguments
Republican members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission say Statehouse district map challengers don’t have a leg to stand on, even alleging the groups want gerrymandering themselves. The commission members responded in court filings to a challenge of new General Assembly maps, which were passed unanimously at the end of September by the commission. Anti-gerrymandering groups […]
Long-fought abortion battle in Ohio could end with Issue 1 amendment or with six-week ban
Editor’s Note: This article is part of a series looking at the language of Ohio Issue 1 and the reproductive rights it would impact. The full language of the amendment can be found here. Before Issue 1 was fully realized as a ballot initiative, Ohio Republicans met at last year’s March for Life, talking about the […]
Drag queens grateful after Ohio Supreme Court removes performance ban from ballot
Ohio drag queens are thanking the Ohio Supreme Court for removing a proposal from city of Bellefontaine ballots that would ban public performances. Drag is more than just performance art for Cleveland drag queen Veranda L’Ni — it’s also community. “It’s the most creative art form in the world — we get to change our […]
Advocacy groups challenge newest Ohio House and Senate redistricting maps
The recently-adopted Ohio House and Senate district maps have now received an official challenge with the Ohio Supreme Court. Attorneys filed the challenge with the state’s highest court on Thursday, saying the Ohio Redistricting Commission “continues its open defiance of this Court’s orders” and asking that the court once again invalidate the maps as unconstitutional, […]
Should abortion law be paused while court case continues? Ohio Supreme Court weighs arguments.
The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments from both parties involved in the court case that would decide whether the six-week abortion ban law can continue in Ohio. But the arguments the state’s highest court heard on Wednesday had more to do with whether the law should be paused while the Hamilton County court […]
Ohio Supreme Court approves abortion rights amendment Ballot Board summary for voters with one tweak
The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered one tweak to summary language approved by Republicans on the Ohio Ballot Board for voters to see in November on a proposed reproductive rights amendment. The split state supreme court rejected using the full text of the proposed amendment and declared that that summary language that voters will see […]
GOP remains undecided on co-chair, Ohio Statehouse redistricting on hold again
With a week to go before Secretary of State Frank LaRose says legislative districts need to be set for the November election, uncertainty continues to mire the redistricting process in chaos. Republican legislative leaders still can’t come to an agreement on who should be their representative as co-chair on the Ohio Redistricting Commission, creating a […]
Ohio Redistricting Commission descends into chaos and dysfunction on first day back
If Ohio politicians planned to show exactly why they deserve to be kicked out of the redistricting process entirely, they couldn’t have done a better job than the shameful display they put on Wednesday morning: They immediately descended into chaos and dysfunction after waiting more than 16 months to begin the process of drawing new […]