RELEASE: Judge Pat DeWine Announces Candidacy for Ohio Supreme Court

Cincinnati, OH-

Judge Pat DeWine of Cincinnati is proud to announce his candidacy for the Ohio Supreme Court in the 2016 election. Judge DeWine currently serves as a judge on the Court of Appeals, and will be running for one of the two open seats on the Ohio Supreme Court in 2016.

On Friday September 18th, Judge Pat DeWine received the official endorsement of the Ohio Republican Party and the State Central Committee. "I am honored to receive the support of the Republican Party", said DeWine. "I look forward to continuing to travel across the state, and talk to voters about the importance of this election."

As part of his official announcement for his candidacy for the Ohio Supreme Court, Judge DeWine has released a video on social media detailing his efforts.

You can watch the official announcement video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcEvIoI9Bic&feature=youtu.be The announcement video is also available on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/JudgePatDeWine?fref=ts) or on his website, PatDeWine.com.

Judge DeWine has broad experience. He has served as both an appellate and a trial court judge; he practiced law for for 13 years at one of Cincinnati's largest law firms; he clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; and he has served as a member of Cincinnati City Council and as a Hamilton County Commissioner.

MATT: It's a good thing Pat decided to run since the Ohio Republican Party already endorsed him last week before he decided to run.....

Chairman Bennett Praises Judi French Appointment

Release:

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Today Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett congratulated Governor Kasich's leadership in appointing Mahoning County native Judge Judith French to the Ohio Supreme Court saying that his choice brings honesty, temperament, and a distinguished legal background to the bench.

"Governor Kasich made the right choice today. Judge French has been committed to fairly and impartially interpreting the law for as long as I've known her and her proven legal experience and objectivity will serve the Supreme Court and people of Ohio well. Judge French is a supreme pick to succeed Justice Stratton and I look forward to her new role serving the people of Ohio."

Gov. Kasich Appoints French as New Supreme Court Justice

Release:

COLUMBUS – Governor John R. Kasich today announced the appointment of Judge Judith L. French of the 10th District Court of Appeals to replace Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton. French has served on the 10th District Court since 2004. French’s appointment becomes effective on January 1, 2013.

French replaces Stratton who announced in May that she would retire by the end of the year. Stratton’s term expires on January 1, 2015. In October, Gov. Kasich began accepting applications for individuals interested in an appointment to Justice Stratton’s seat, and tapped seven distinguished legal professionals to provide independent advice and help evaluate applicants to ensure a capable successor to Stratton was chosen.

“While our state will miss Justice Stratton, Ohioans can be confident Judge French has the diverse experience and strong legal mind required to serve on Ohio’s highest court. Judge French has demonstrated her dedication to preserving the rule of law, to Ohio and its constitution, and I’m proud to appoint her to the Supreme Court,” said Kasich.

French has been practicing law since her graduation from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1988. In 1993 she began her service to the state of Ohio as Deputy Director of Legal Affairs at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. She went on to serve as Section Chief and Chief Counsel to Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery from 1997-2002 and as Chief Counsel to Ohio Governor Bob Taft from 2002-2004. She is a member of the Constitutional Modernization Commission co-chaired by Speaker William Batchelder and Rep. Vernon Sykes and serves on the OSU Moritz College of Law National Council, the Ohio Women’s Bar Association, and has been a mentor in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. French is also a board member of Amethyst, Inc., a center for long-term addiction treatment with safe housing for women and their children.

Judge French’s biography is available here.

Speaker Batchelder Releases Statement on Supreme Court’s Reapportionment Ruling

Release:

COLUMBUS—In response to the Ohio Supreme Court’s ruling that the Ohio legislative districts drawn up in the 2012-2022 apportionment plan are constitutional, Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) released the following statement:

“I am very pleased by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the newly apportioned legislative districts. I have believed from the beginning that the good work of the apportionment board was well within the clear confines of the law and successfully created districts that will allow Ohioans to be appropriately represented in the Statehouse. I’d like to commend Governor Kasich, Senate President Niehaus, Secretary of State Husted and Auditor Yost for their tireless efforts to create fair and legal Ohio legislative districts in Ohio.

“Today’s decision is recognition that the current system was done fairly and appropriately. However, while I agree with the majority opinion of the Court, I do believe that the process for legislative reapportionment needs to be reviewed and examined for possible reform. I have said previously that the Constitutional Modernization Commission would be a perfect avenue for such discussions to take place and I maintain that same sentiment today.”

Chairman Bennett Calls On Future Judicial Candidates Not To Meet with the Ohio State Bar Association

Release:

COLUMBUS - Today, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett issued the following statement on the Ohio State Bar Association's (OSBA) candidate rating of Mike Skindell:

"How can the OSBA be so biased, recommending Skindell, an extremist partisan legislator with no judicial experience, over sitting Butler County Judge and former police officer Sharon Kennedy?

"As a 45-year member of the bar, I see their decision as a slap in the face to those who previously respected the group's integrity. That's why I am calling on future judicial candidates to skip the candidate review process. The OSBA's endorsements have now become a joke and no longer carry any value whatsoever."

Butler County Domestic Relations Judge Sharon Kennedy has served on the bench since 1999 and has been previously highly recommended by the Butler County Bar Association. She is highly respected as a judge by those who have appeared before her court.

Skindell No Match for Justice O'Donnell

Release:

COLUMBUS - Today, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett released the following statement on Senator Michael Skindell's expected run against Republican Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence O'Donnell this November:

"Trial lawyer Mike Skindell's left wing ideology makes him unfit for the state's highest court. After trying for seven months, the Democrats unearthed a candidate with no judicial experience whatsoever, who stands in marked contrast to Justice O'Donnell's thirty-year judicial career of distinction and outstanding record on the bench."

"Justice O'Donnell is a quality jurist, who over the years has kept his pledge of being fair and impartial. This same can't be reasonably expected from his opponent, whose legislative career has been spent limiting gun rights, pushing pro-government health mandates, and casting votes that hurt Ohio businesses that create jobs.

"Skindell's activism is bad for the Court, and bad for Ohio."

ORP Chair Bennett on OSBA Supreme Court Ratings

Statement:

COLUMBUS - In response to the OSBA judicial ratings released for Supreme Court candidates Chairman Bennett released the following statement:

"Judge Kennedy's decision to pursue a seat on the Supreme Court has always been grounded in the notion that the people of Ohio deserve a judicial system which places their interests above the influence of trial lawyers and career judges committed to legislating from the bench. This rating neglects the fact that Sharon Kennedy's experience as a judge, police officer, and someone who understands that the role of a Justice is limited to the powers enumerated in the Constitution, is desperately needed on the Supreme Court."

Dennis the Menace Update: Ohio Supreme Court Says, YOU LOSE!

Dennis "the Menace" Varnau has lost his final battle (unless he wants to go to the US Supreme Court) regarding his quixotic and egotistical war against Brown County Sheriff Dwayne Wenninger. They have denied his appeal and whining...so the issue is finally done. More to come, but here is the initial story found online at newsdemocrat.com:

Varnau had initially filed a protest in 2008 against Wenninger's candidacy for sheriff when the two ran against each other in the November elections. In February of 2009, following a victory from Wenninger, Varnau filed a complaint in the court of appeals for a writ of quo warrant to oust Wenninger from office and to place Varnau in his stead, claiming he was the only qualified candidate for sheriff in the 2008 election. Varnau claimed Wenninger was not qualified since he initially took office in 2000.

Last year, the Ohio Court of Appeals decided that Wenninger's candidacy for sheriff in 2000 is irrelevant, and that due to serving as sheriff, Wenninger was qualified to run in 2008. On Jan. 18, Varnau filed an appeal asserting that the court of appeals erred in denying the writ of quo warranto. The Ohio Supreme Court disagreed with the appeal, according to court documents, stating that for Wenninger's qualifications to be debated, the issue should have been presented during his first term as sheriff.

More to follow...the Brown County Press story in print (not yet up online...grrr)gave more detail and had this gem..."Varnau did not return phone calls and could not be reached for comment." HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAH!

Look, I have no personal affection or bias toward Dwayne Wenninger. Yes, we are both Republicans, but I don't know the man beyond a few interactions over the years and by his record. Some good, some bad. But what I do know is that justice is finally served in that this egotistical elitist has been told that he cannot circumvent the will of the people retroactively and cannot be crowned sheriff. Guess Dennis and his cult will have to go hunt for the man in the grassy knoll or the book of secrets or Bigfoot.....

Matt, I think this calls for some dancing Snoopys:





Oh yeah, and this too:

Justice O’Donnell Seeks to Continue Service on Ohio Supreme Court

Release:

(Columbus) – Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence O’Donnell today filed petitions with the Secretary of State stating his intention to seek re-election to the Ohio Supreme Court. O’Donnell first joined the Court in 2003 and was re-elected in 2006 with 62% of the statewide vote.

“Justice O’Donnell is an outstanding Judge and a tireless campaigner. We’ve come to expect the best from him and we’re proud of his service to Ohio,” said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine. Justice O’Donnell has been widely commended for his work in improving the professionalism of judges and lawyers throughout the state. He’s worked to implement a nationally-recognized mentoring program that has been hailed as one of the nation’s finest. “Justice O’Donnell deserves to continue his excellent work as a Supreme Court Justice,” DeWine added, “with his campaign already well underway, today was another important step for him and for our Court.”

The son of a Cleveland police officer, O’Donnell served in private practice before he began his tenure as a Common Pleas Judge and Appeals Court Judge in Cuyahoga County. Prior to his legal career, O’Donnell was a schoolteacher. His judicial career spans thirty years.

“I consider it a great privilege to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court and am proud of having a part in restoring public confidence in judiciary by adhering to the rule of law ,” said O’Donnell. “I’m looking forward to continued service,” he added.

Justice O’Donnell and his wife, Mary Beth, have been married for 37 years. They have four adult children and expect their sixth grandchild just before Christmas.

OH GOP Endorses OH Supreme Court Nominees

From the ORP:

COLUMBUS - Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine released the following statements today formally endorsing Justice Terrence O'Donnell , Justice Robert Cupp, and Judge Sharon Kennedy of Butler County, for Ohio Supreme Court.

Incumbent Justice Terrence O'Donnell

"Justice O'Donnell is an outstanding Judge and a tireless campaigner. We've come to expect the best from him and we're proud of his service to Ohio," said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine.

"The Ohio Republican Party proudly endorses Justice O'Donnell's reelection because he has proven that he deserves to continue his excellent work on the Supreme Court," DeWine added.



Click here to be taken to Justice O'Donnell's online biography


Incumbent Justice Robert R. Cupp

"Since his election five years ago, Justice Cupp has proven himself time and again as a tireless civil servant who is has shown honor and distinction as a member of the Supreme Court," said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine.

"The families of Ohio need Justice Robert Cupp and his extensive public service experience on the Supreme Court, and the Ohio Republican Party is proud to endorse his reelection," DeWine concluded.

Click here to be taken to Justice Cupp's online biography


Judge Sharon Kennedy

"Sharon Kennedy's years of professional experience as a police officer, private attorney and judge serve as testament to her dedication in making our communities stronger and safer. The Ohio Republican Party proudly endorses Judge Kennedy because our state and the Supreme Court will be well-served by her unwavering devotion to public service," Chairman DeWine said.

Click here to be taken to Judge Kennedy's online biography

With Friends Like These, ORP Needs No (More?) Democrats

A reader brought this Joe Hallett column to my attention with the warning that it would get my blood boiling and it sure did...

It is hard enough to get Republicans to care about judicial races to begin with since they are "non-partisan" and all, but when I see the Chief Justice who just went around claiming to be the female Ronald Reagan in a black robe in order to get elected now claim to be a "moderate" I just want to break things.

And then there is former ORP Chairman Bob "The Tool" Bennett with this bit:

"Yvette has an understanding of business," said former Ohio GOP Chairman Robert T. Bennett. "It makes her a very difficult opponent for Republicans in 2012."

Sweet Jeebus, Bob, why don't you appear in an ad for the Democrat why don't ya? 
"Republican" Paul Pfieffer (State Central Committee endorsed):

"Everyone on the court genuinely likes her," said Paul E. Pfeifer, the senior justice. "She's done a great job as far as I'm concerned."

Get. Out. Of. My. Party. And. Don't. Let. The. Door. Hit. Your. @$$. On. The. Way. Out.
More O'Connor:

"I don't think that she will receive anything but good wishes from everybody in this building when it comes to her efforts," O'Connor said.

"I will be very honest with people when they ask me my opinion of Yvette and her place on this court as an associate justice. I think she's just a wonderful addition."

Velvet Hammer my @$$...  I'm tired of having to support these clowns...

Brown County News: Thanks to Ohio Supremes, Dennis the Menace is Back

Dennis Varnau has gained relevance again. This time, the culprit is the Ohio Supreme Court. They have kicked his repeatedly smacked down claims of lack of qualifications by Sheriff Dwayne Wenninger back to the 12th district court of appeals. From the Brown County Press:

The legal battle between Dennis Varnau and Brown County Sheriff Dwayne Wenninger has taken another turn.

The Ohio Supreme Court has reversed a decision by the 12th Ohio Court of Appeals, ordering the appeals court to rule on Varnau's effort to oust Wenninger from office.

Last August, the appeals court ruled in Wenningers favor, denying a writ of "Quo Warranto" to Varnau.

Such a writ is the legal procedure to remove an individual from public office.he appeals court ruled that since the Brown County Board of Elections had previously certified Wenninger as a candidate, Varnau had no standing to request a Quo Warranto ruling.

The Supreme Court decision means that the appeals court will now decide the case on its merits.

Varnau is claiming that Wenninger was not certified as a law enforcement officer in 2000 and was therefore not a lawful candidate for Sheriff.

He further claims that this lack of certification carries forward to the elections of 2004 and 2008, making Wenninger an unlawful candidate in them as well.

Wenninger told the Brown County Press last August that all of his certifications are up to date and that he is fully qualified to serve as Sheriff.

Varnau protested Wenninger's candidacy to the Brown County Board of Elections in 2008, when he ran as an independent candidate.

The ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court said "...the board of elections denied the protest, because, among other reasons, it was not filed by a member of the appropriate (political) party."

Varnau was running as an independent, and not a member of a political party.

Varnau responded by filing papers in Brown County Common Pleas Court to force the board of elections to accept his protest.

The court denied his request, ruling that Varnau's protest was not "filed by a qualified elector who is a member of the same political party as the candidate..."

Varnau appealed to the 12th District Court of Appeals which ruled in Wenninger's favor.

The Ohio Supreme Court now says the appeals court was wrong and must rule on Varnau's writ of Quo Warranto.

A key part of the Supreme Court ruling rests in the fact that the board of elections did not hold a hearing to hear Varnau's case.

Without such a hearing, the Supreme Court says, the boards ruling lacks the authority that the appeals court cited when ruling against Varnau.

There is no word on when the issue will be reexamined by the 12th District Court of Appeals.

Varnau says that if Wenninger is found to be unqualified, then Dennis should be made sheriff.

To me, this shows you that this is not about justice. If it were, then KO Martin or Buddy Coburn should be named sheriff, not Varnau. However, this shows that Dennis is in this for Dennis, not justice.

And, this stuff has been heard again and again. Enough already.

GUEST COLUMN: "Prosecutor’s Perspective on Death Penalty"

By Bruce McGary

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer recently asked Governor John Kasich to end capitol punishment in Ohio. Justice Pfeifer, one of the authors of Ohio’s Death penalty statute, now calls the death penalty a “lottery” and suggests that the Governor should commute the sentences of all defendants facing capitol punishment. The death penalty deters crime and ensures justice for victims and families. The system ensures a fair and accurate trial for every person who faces the death penalty.


Ohio currently has 157 people on death row. The death penalty in this state has been in existence since the early 1800’s. It was banned between 1972 and 1981, then re-enacted by a vote of the people. During its 200-year existence (excluding those 9 years) there were created considerable legal safeguards, as there should be, to prevent the innocent from being sentenced to death. The death penalty is only applied to a very few, heinous crimes.

According to homicidesurvivors.org, since 1975, only .3% of death row inmates have been found to be innocent, and released. During that same time period, nearly 100,000 people were murdered by parolees, probationers and other felons who were granted early release, according to the Brookings Institute.

The public supported the death penalty in 1981, and supports it now (according to a recent Newsweek article, 65% of the nation supports the death penalty). The public recognizes that there are a few horrible crimes committed by irredeemable criminals that deserve the death penalty. Still, the ACLU, the media, and Justice Pfeifer think they know better than voters, jurors, and victims.

OSC Justice Pfieffer Questioning Death Penalty

The guy that the Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee was thrilled to endorse for Supreme Court because he has an R after his name is now questioning whether or not Ohio should keep the death penalty.

Maybe instead of shuffling chairs on this particular deck, the Ohio Republican Party should have been a bit more focused on finding somebody to run against this clown.

Just saying.

Unendorsing Pfieffer

Did the Hamilton County Republican Party's Executive Committee UNendorse Justice Paul "the Liberal" Pfieffer at a recent meeting?

Enquiring minds want to know...

UPDATE:  Am told  "nope - 'robust discussion" only'" which is really too bad because tolerating Democrat-Lite Republicans like Pfieffer is part of the problem.

You Can Always Count on Redfern for a Laugh

The Ohio RINOvich Party's saving grace: the Ohio Democratic Party and its chairman Chris Redfern.  Redfern actually says this to a reporter:

"The fact that Justices O'Connor and Lanzinger clearly made endorsements under the guise of not endorsing makes their behavior particularly reprehensible," Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern wrote in the complaint.

What a maroon, as Bugs would say...

Christopher Seeks Dismissal of Ballot Case

ChrisVsJennyDismissal

Reader's Digest version: Since the Republican-dominated, tied-to the Dewine Political Family, Ohio Supreme Court wouldn't be bother ed to hear the case on an expedited schedule, and couldn't be bothered to order Christopher on to the ballot in lieu of the conclusion of the case, Steven Christopher really did the conservative thing and stopped the proceedings.

End result: We're so screwed...

Ohio Chief Justice Race: Petro Out

From some highly placed sources, I have heard that former State Attorney General Jim Petro is dropping his bid to run for Chief Justice. This leaves current Supreme Court Justice Maureen O'Connor as the only candidate for the Republican side. In related news, Supreme Court Justices Judith Lanzinger and Paul Pfiefer are running for reelection.

Cleveland Update: Legislating From the Bench Edition

Here is a story that hasn't gotten a whole lot of play but it is important on several fronts. The 8th District Court of Appeals is thumbing its nose at the Ohio Supreme Court and a ruling by that body that settled the issue of whether or not local gun control laws had any teeth. The answer to that question was decided by the Ohio Supreme Court in Ohioans For Concealed Carry, Inc. v. Clyde but that hasn't stopped the Democrats in Cleveland from pushing their radical agenda.

I said that this issue was important on several fronts and it is... Take the Republican primary race for Attorney General for instance. In Dave Yost, we have a solid conservative who supports the Second Amendment without question. In Mike DeWine, we have a liberal with a vast record of trashing the Second Amendment whenever it suits him.

It is also important, because we have several Courts of Appeals races going on RIGHT NOW around the state. Two seats in the 12th District are open this time. I happen to know that Rachel Hutzel is a strong Second Amendment supporter, but have no idea about Robin Piper (maybe somebody ought to ask him). These are all very relevant and important questions that we should be asking judicial candidates.

More Supreme Court Decision on Husted Residency

We chatted about this issue on the radio show last night, but I hadn't had a chance to actually read the whole decision from the Supreme Court. I have now done so and I have to take notice that the Court failed to adequately address the residency of the Husted family. Here is what the Court says on page 11 (PDF):

Third, the secretary of state erroneously relied exclusively on R.C.
3503.02(D) (which creates a presumption that the place where the family of a married person resides is the person’s place of residence) to decide the residency issue. All of R.C. 3503.02, including section D, is phrased in mandatory language, so elevating R.C. 3503.02(D) over others, e.g., R.C. 3503.02(A) through (C), without reasonable justification is impermissible.

My dear Justices of the Supreme Court of the Great State of Beautiful Ohio, THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT. The Court has elevated A - C over D in this decision. And that is unacceptable. The whole point behind having a law like this is to establish circumstances under which residency could be determined. If the Court's interpretation is correct, a person would have to violate EVEY section of that law in order to have their residency status revoked. Does that sound like a law that makes sense?

By effectively treating the R.C. 3503.02(D) factor as the exclusive factor applicable to Husted, the secretary created an irrebuttable presumption to classify Husted as a nonresident of Montgomery County, which is not constitutionally permissible. Bell v. Marinko (C.A.6, 2004), 367 F.3d 588, 593.

I would have to ask for proof from this Court that Bell vs. Marinko was decided correctly. We have no reference as to what the particulars of that case are and how relevant they are to this case. You have already wasted 11 pages, why not do the work of explaining this issue more fully other than just sweeping it under the rug with a case citation. Democrats do that, I expect more out of a Court filled with nothing but Republicans.

Our holding is consistent with precedent. For example, in Klink,
157 Ohio St. 338, 47 O.O. 198, 105 N.E.2d 399, we held that a board of elections properly decided that a married person whose family lived in Franklin County was a qualified elector of Hamilton County because of substantial evidence that
the person intended to eventually return to Cincinnati. See also State ex rel. Lakes
v. Young (1954), 161 Ohio St. 341, 53 O.O. 249, 119 N.E.2d 279 (married man did not lose voting residence in township even though his family moved temporarily to a city).

What significant evidence was presented that Husted intends to return? Since when is the word of a politician classified as significant evidence of anything? This is purely a subjective and partisan determination.

Let me point you to Justice Pfieffer's opinion, because he concurred with the decision, but not the opinion, at the end of the PDF:

For each Ohio citizen, where he or she deems to be home is a highly personal matter. Home is often different from where one is presently living. R.C. 3503.02 attempts to recognize that elusive, emotional connection to “home.” But this particular case is not difficult: considering that R.C. 3503.02 allows voters to retain a residence by relying on a vague notion of intent to return, it must certainly allow all members of the General Assembly to retain their residences in the places they regard to be home while living with their families in the state capital.

"...it must certainly allow..." Really? What a cop-out, Mr. Justice! I always thought that our judges were supposed to rule on what laws actually say not what they "must certainly allow". The law either does allow or it doesn't. If you want to say that the law is not clear, say so.

As I said on the radio show last night, what we have here is a flawed law which unscrupulous politicians have circumvented in order to do whatever they want to do. I do not believe that those who created that law ever envisioned a time when a public servant would ever be so enamored with the centers of power as we have today. Tom Blumer was right when he said it last night: the legislators back in the horse and buggy days had it much more difficult than we do in today's 65 m.p.h. modern era. How pathetic has our political class become?