Litigation

Justices Criticize OH Reform Plan

By Peter Hardin

Ohio Chief Justice Thomas Moyer’s proposal for the state’s governor to appoint state Supreme Court justices is getting flak, including from some of Moyer’s colleagues.

Justice Moyer and allies have floated the idea of replacing the competitive election of state Supreme Court justices with an appointment and retention (up-or-down vote) system, aimed at reducing the influence of big campaign cash and partisan politics in judicial selection.

At least three fellow justices on the seven-member state high court favor preserving the elective system, according to a Columbus Dispatch article. And another justice, Paul E. Pfeifer, declared the appointment/retention proposal dead.

“I believe that we should work with the elective system and concentrate on educating the public about the qualifications, records and philosophies of each candidate. The public can then decide who deserves their vote, trust and confidence,” said Justice Maureen O’Connor, a candidate for Justice Moyer’s job when he retires.

His colleagues’ opposition doesn’t kill the idea, Justice Moyer said, adding, “I think it’s difficult to find across the country a sitting justice of a Supreme Court who has gotten there by the elective system who says they don’t like it.”

Justice Moyer is a board member of Justice at Stake. You can read more about the proposal floated in Ohio from Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on March 03, 2010 (boomark / email).