The Democratic Party held their annual spring “Dinner at the Fairgrounds” Thursday evening. Three judges from the Cleveland area running for election or re-election to the Ohio Supreme Court were keynote speakers.
Judge Lisa Forbes of the 8th District Court of Appeals in Cuyahoga County has spent 15 years on a county board of social services. She said she wants to help the Supreme Court make sure “the rule of law wins the day” and that the court acts as firewall so all rights in the Ohio Constitution are available to all Ohioans.
Justice Melody Stewart is running for re-election to the Ohio Supreme Court. She said that when the state legislature recently added identification of political party to some judicial races, it was a partisan action to try to change the political balance. Stewart said it was done to only the Ohio Supreme Court and appellate courts, not the hundreds of local judges that interact much more with Ohioans.
She also pointed out that Governor DeWine had appointed a man as a supreme court justice with no judicial experience, and that he is not running to keep his own judgeship, but to get hers.
Justice Michael Donnelly is running for re-election to the Ohio Supreme Court. Before serving there, he was a mental health court judge – a type of court that is being discussed for Ross County to help keep those with mental health issues from unnecessarily adding to legal procedures and taking up jail space.
Donnelly also says he wants a statewide sentencing database, like other states and the federal system, to help judges be reasonable and consistent in their sentencing.
Hear all three in their own words in the interview videos in the article on the Scioto Post.
The Ross County Democratic Party has a Facebook page, and chair Dona Meyer can be contacted at donameyer@hotmail.com.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
1 of 3 Three Ohio Supreme Court Candidates spoke at the Ross County Democratic Party Spring Dinner: Judge Lisa Forbes, Justice Melody Stewart, and Justice Michael Donnelly.
2 of 3 3 of 3 Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney offers a toast to the late Ross County Commissioner Frank Hirsch.