Author: djm167

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
I have served as a judge on the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Bench in the General Division since January, 2005. During this time, I have been active on numerous committees in an effort to improve Ohio’s judicial system. I served as Chairman to the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism. I am a current Vice President in the Ohio Common Pleas Judge’s Association. I serve on the Ohio Jury Instruction Committee. I am a member of the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Bar Examiners.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
During my nearly 12 years as a practicing attorney prior to taking the bench, I served as a criminal prosecutor in the General Felony Division of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Officer under the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones. From 1997 until 2004, I served as a civil litigator primarily in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court during which time I was exposed to nearly every form of litigation which is heard in the Cuyahoga County General Division.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I regard the position of being a judge for exactly what it is – a true privilege to serve the citizens of Cuyahoga County and this State. From my days at St. Ignatius High School, I was taught that we were placed on this earth to serve others. As a Cuyahoga County Judge, I have the opportunity to do this on a daily basis with the parties that appear before me. As a judge I believe there is always opportunity to improve the justice system. I firmly believe that when every party in our adversarial system is doing their job correctly, the system will produce just results. The only way to ensure parties are doing their job correctly is to provide the highest degree of transparency possible. For this reason, I try to engage with the parties as much as I can on the record. In civil cases, I am advocating for new procedures which will ensure timely rulings on motions, access to the court for legal argument on the record, and the highest degree of trial date certainty. I also believe that there are procedural improvements we should impose in criminal cases, to ensure that claims of actual innocence for the wrongfully convicted are treated with the highest level of expediency possible. The fact that the system is fallible is not a matter in dispute. Every stakeholder in the process must work extremely hard to avoid the greatest injustice which can occur which is the conviction of the innocent.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Judge of First District Court of Appeals. 2010-present

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I believe that my hard work, integrity and respect for the office qualifies me to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court. I learned the value of hard work from my parents and took that with me to Harvard. During my time there I also had at least one job (janitor ), if not two (library worker) or three (as an intramural ref) jobs at a time, while helping to pay my way through an expensive college as my parents did not have the money to afford my school. Despite needing to earn those funds, I still received an award at graduation for supposedly being the all around person in the class. The other thing I value more than anything else is integrity. The voters and citizens of Ohio have the right to expect that your judges have the utmost integrity, respect for the law and highest ethical standards. I believe that I have all three and because of that have consistently been cited by me peers including serving as President of the Ohio State Bar Association. I’ve has always had a deep and abiding interest in ethics and professionalism matters, and served two terms on the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism, including serving as Vice Chair. I also chaired the Cincinnati Bar Association’s Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and its Professionalism committees.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I have seen so much of the legal system and have so benefitted from that system. I believe that I can be a fair and reasoned jurist for all. I believe I have the ability and desire to make the judicial and legal system better than it is today. I can use all the abilities and gifts I have been given to make it work. Not only have I tried many cases in Ohio, I tried cases as far south as Texas, as far west as LA, and had oral arguments in the 2nd (NYC) and 10th circuits (Denver), and a win in the U.S. Supreme Court. My longest trial to jury verdict was about 16 weeks and I have broad experience that I can bring to the court deep insight and thoughtfulness. I am also a good listener, I grew up in a somewhat large family: 6 kids, 2 parents, and a grandmother, all 9 people at the table together for dinner. More importantly I was the second youngest and the older siblings and adults did not really care what I thought. And with one parent a strong Democrat and one a strong Republican, I learned to listen and to discern which arguments seemed best or strong. That ability helped me greatly, both as a lawyer and especially as a judge. All parties want to be heard by the court even if they lose the case. It is an ability essential to judicial quality. For much the same reason I grew up with an open mind and the ability to ask insightful questions, and generally without putting off the party answering the question. I think that helps me to get to the real issues in a case. By getting to the point sooner and more exactly, the parties get their opinions sooner as well as in a better reasoned decision.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Incumbent court of appeals judge, Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals, elected November 4, 2014 to unexpired term (seeking reelection to full, six-year term, beginning January 1, 2017) Judge, Franklin County Common Pleas Court, General Division, elected November 2000 to unexpired term and reelected in November 2002 to full, six-year term

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
The Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals is the only court of appeals among Ohio’s 12 judicial appellate districts that reviews nearly all state government appellate matters, since state government is located in Columbus. Most administrative appeals from state agency decisions may be appealed by state law to the Franklin County County Common Pleas Court and and are subject to review by the Tenth District Court of Appeals. Other administrative appeals from some state agencies are reviewed directly by the Tenth District Court of Appeals, while some original actions (in mandamus), seeking to require the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation to decide differently in injured workers matters, are brought in the first instance in the Tenth District Court of Appeals. Having been elected to this court in 2014, I have greatly appreciated how my past experience has helped me perform my duties as a judge since being elected. Having served as Ohio’s 52nd Secretary of State, managing an agency of 200 employees and collaborating with other state agencies, elected officials, county prosecutors, county commissioners and boards of elections in all of Ohio’s 88 counties has given me a unique perspective, especially on state and local government matters. This practical experience and familiarity with the operation of Ohio, Franklin County and municipal governments in Franklin County assists the court in reviewing and examining the arguments of the parties before this court. Having managed litigation and attorneys in both the public and private sectors, and having started my own law firm from the corner of my bedroom when my children were ages 7, 4 and 2, along with my judicial experience, help me conduct a balanced review of cases. My years of private practice were heavy in civil litigation seeking temporary and injunctive relief, extraordinary writs and involving administrative and other areas of civil law, well-suited to the nuances of this court’s docket. The work I have done overseas has given me a “big picture” view of how democracy and corruption are often at odds and has aided me in understanding cultural nuances as our communities here at home become more diverse. My judicial philosophy involves respecting state and federal constitutional separations of power, following legal precedent, having the patience to objectively examine the concerns of each individual litigant and working hard with fairness and compassion to ensure justice.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running for reelection to the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals, because I value public service. Being a judge is first and foremost to my mind an act of public service. I believe my experience makes me well-suited for doing a good job at this work. I enjoy and value doing the work of an appellate judge and working with my judicial colleagues in three-judge panels on our eight-member court. I value working collaboratively with my colleagues and our staff to help solve problems for our community in a peaceable way, through the rule of law. When our decisions protect people and their rights, we are doing our part to improve the quality of life for the people we serve in Franklin County and Ohio, and this to me is what public service is all about.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
1994 – Graduated University of Michigan Law School (top 10% of class). 1995 – 1996 – Clerk, the Honorable David A. Nelson, United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. 1996 – 2009 – Of counsel, Keating, Muething & Klekamp. 2009 – 2012 – Judge, Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. 2013 – Present – Judge, Ohio First District Court of Appeals.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I have always had a deep respect for the rule of law and the impact a sound legal system can play in citizens’ daily lives. My federal clerkship immediately after law school gave me a deeper appreciation for the federalist structure of our country; my work at a leading private law firm allowed me to gain an appreciation for the many legal issues businesses and individuals regularly face; and my tenure as a city council member and county commissioner provided me the opportunity to work in an adjacent branch of government and gain firsthand knowledge about how the government and legal system work best together to improve the lives of our citizens. Combined with my judicial roles, these experiences make me very well suited for a seat on Ohio’s high court.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I have a strong commitment to public service and great respect for the significant role our legal system plays in the daily lives of Ohioans. A legal system that is restrained, that respects the other branches of government, and that ensures a fair interpretation and application of the law allows for a more stable and prosperous economy, the greatest protection of Ohio families, and makes Ohio a better place to live and work. This philosophy has guided my judicial career, and I aspire to be on the Ohio Supreme Court because I believe I can lend my voice and this philosophy to strengthen Ohio’s legal environment and improve the lives of our citizens.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Chief Justice 2011-present; Associate Justice 2003-2011; Common Pleas Judge 1993-1995; Probate Court Magistrate 1985-1993

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
As an attorney in private practice and as prosecuting attorney for Summit County I represented clients in state court hearings and trials, in appellate courts and in Federal court. That experience, along with my experience as a magistrate and common pleas judge, stood me in good stead when I was elected to the bench as a justice on the Ohio Supreme Court. I understand the difficult role of an attorney and have witnessed the good that attorneys and the courts have accomplished for clients. Experience both before and on the bench has allowed me to fully understand and respect the role of an attorney and a judge.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I have had the privilege and honor of being chief justice since 1/1/2011. As chief justice I have handled the court’s docket, provided “hands on” administration of the branch and actively championed reforms. Under my administration, various task forces have issued reports and recommendations to the justices on the subject of the death penalty, court funding, and access to justice. The position of chief justice demands administrative experience and I have the administrative experience from my role as common pleas court administrative judge, prosecuting attorney and director of the department of public safety. I enjoy the administrative duties and have shown skill in doing the same. I fortunately have no opponent as I seek re-election to the position of chief justice. I believe this is partially due to my successes in championing the judicial branch and in working successfully with both the executive and legislative branches on behalf of the courts and the judiciary. I have projects and goals that I plan on completing during the next six year term. The most recent focus is a task force to examine the grand jury system and seek ways to elevate public confidence in the grand jury. I also am involved on the national level with the National Center for State Courts as a member of the board and co-chair of the Task Force on Fines, Fees and Bail. I have been elected by the chief justices of the country to the position of first vice-president of the Conference of Chief Justices and will become president in July of 2017. I have always used my law degree in the role of public servant and appreciate the opportunity to continue to do so as chief justice.

(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Ohio Court of Appeals (Eighth District) – Nine years.

(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I practiced law, taught law, and did extensive researching and writing in my work and educational experiences.

(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running for re-election.