Litigation

Partisanship Gets New Blessing in Ohio

By Raheem Dawodu

Ohio judicial races are taking a further step down the path of open politicization.

As of March 15, 2009, Ohio judges will  be allowed to advertise their political party affiliations during general elections, according to this Associated Press article.

The Ohio Supreme Court overturned a decade-old provision that made the general election officially nonpartisan in judicial races (although candidates sought and received party nominations).

The court did so partly because of a challenge in the 2004 elections, and partly to allow ?transparency? in the role political parties play in judicial elections, according to Supreme Court assistant administrator Rick Dove.

The newest step follows a recent state Supreme Court decision to allow a 15% increase in contribution limits for judicial elections-an action taken shortly after the state’s million dollar race in 2008 for two Supreme Court seats. 

Full post as published by The Gavel on January 08, 2009 (boomark / email).