Litigation

OH Justice Takes Aim at Court?s Chief

By Peter Hardin

A candidate for chief justice in Ohio has likened that court, with her opponent at the helm, to a “rudderless ship.”

?I believe that, at this point, the Ohio Supreme Court is akin to a rudderless ship without a leader, without direction, and post-Nov. 2 [Election Day] that will change,? Justice Maureen O’Connor told the editorial board of the Vindicator newspaper.

A Republican, Justice O’Connor is running against newly appointed Chief Justice Eric Brown, who recently was named by the governor to fill a vacancy  created by the death of then-Chief Justice Thomas Moyer.

When contacted by the newspaper, Justice Brown said, ?I have been an effective leader on the court. … My style is very hands-on. I don?t lead by press conference. I work with others to come up with solutions to problems. Certainly, there?s a lot of talk this campaign season.? He is a Democrat.

Last month, the pair clashed in a meeting with the editorial board of the Columbus Dispatch. Justice Brown said his opponent should not have cast a vote in a decision lifting restraints on judicial candidate fundraising, because she is running for re-election. Justice O’Connor labeled Justice Brown a “middle-aged white male” and pointed out that if elected, she would be Ohio’s first female chief justice.

To learn more about the state Supreme Court elections in Ohio, check out Justice at Stake’s Ohio news page.

Full post as published by The Gavel on September 21, 2010 (boomark / email).