Ginger Bock
2021 - Present
2027
4
Ginger Bock (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Ohio First District Court of Appeals. She assumed office on February 9, 2021. Her current term ends on February 8, 2027.
Bock (Nonpartisan, Democratic Party) ran for election for judge of the Ohio First District Court of Appeals. Bock won in the general election on November 3, 2020. She advanced from the Democratic primary on April 28, 2020.
Elections
2020
See also: Ohio intermediate appellate court elections, 2020
General election
General election for Ohio First District Court of Appeals
Ginger Bock defeated incumbent Russell Mock in the general election for Ohio First District Court of Appeals on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ginger Bock (Nonpartisan) | 56.1 | 204,998 |
 | Russell Mock (Nonpartisan) | 43.9 | 160,641 | |
| Total votes: 365,639 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio First District Court of Appeals
Ginger Bock advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio First District Court of Appeals on April 28, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ginger Bock | 100.0 | 57,297 |
| Total votes: 57,297 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio First District Court of Appeals
Incumbent Russell Mock advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio First District Court of Appeals on April 28, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Russell Mock | 100.0 | 33,594 |
| Total votes: 33,594 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for Ohio First District Court of Appeals
Robert C. Winkler defeated Ginger Bock in the general election for Ohio First District Court of Appeals on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Robert C. Winkler (R) | 51.5 | 154,546 |
| Ginger Bock (D) | 48.5 | 145,695 | |
| Total votes: 300,241 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio First District Court of Appeals
Ginger Bock defeated Bill Bell in the Democratic primary for Ohio First District Court of Appeals on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ginger Bock | 73.4 | 28,663 |
| Bill Bell | 26.6 | 10,375 | ||
| Total votes: 39,038 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio First District Court of Appeals
Robert C. Winkler advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio First District Court of Appeals on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert C. Winkler | 100.0 | 30,878 |
| Total votes: 30,878 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Selection method
The judges of the Ohio District Courts of Appeals are selected through partisan primary elections followed by nonpartisan general elections.[1] Courts of appeals candidates are chosen in their respective appellate districts.[1] In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement. The appointee serves until the next general election taking place 40 or more days after the vacancy occurred. If re-elected, the judge serves the remainder of his or her predecessor's unexpired term.[1] In 2007, Governor Ted Strickland issued an executive order creating a judicial appointment recommendation panel to assist in making new appointments. The panel evaluates applicants and advises the governor, but the governor is not bound to the panel's recommendations.[1]
Qualifications
To serve on the court, a judge must be:
- a district resident;
- at least six years in the practice of law; and
- under the age of 70.[1]
Selection of the chief judge
The chief judge of the Ohio District Courts of Appeal is chosen by peer vote and serves for one year.[1]
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ginger Bock did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Ginger Bock participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on April 10, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Ginger Bock's responses follow below.[2]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Increase the Court's transparency. The Court has taken steps in recent years to be less mysterious. I want to build on that momentum by ensuring that every judgment fully informs parties of the legal reasoning behind decisions. Not only is it good practice to issue a full decision with clear legal reasoning, but also it helps increase trust in the system when people understand why a court rules in a particular way. 2) Transform the Court’s current “accelerated docket.” Cases are put on the accelerated docket by default. Cases are rarely removed. The rule unduly limits the number of pages permitted. For complex cases, the page limit leaves inadequate space for attorneys to explain the case and argue the issues. Further, appellants—the parties appealing the lower courts’ decisions—are denied the opportunity to respond to appellees’ briefs in writing. Instead, appellants are left to respond to appellees’ characterizations of fact or law at oral argument. Parties and attorneys should have the opportunity to fully argue their cases in writing. |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | Judges must approach every case impartially and decide them strictly on the facts and the law. Accordingly, judges and judicial candidates are encouraged to avoid voicing their personal opinions on any issue that may appear before the Court. Most public policy issues have the potential to appear before the court. An issue about which I can discuss and feel very passionately is access to justice. Too often, people feel helpless because they lack the money or resources to assert their rights in court. Systematic barriers to justice do not hurt only those people who are prevented from obtaining justice. Rather, these barriers harm all of society. A judicial system must grant all people access to the courts. It must serve all people fairly and equally. Discrimination and corruption must be eliminated from our judicial system. And legal resources must be provided to those in need. Without a system that is fair for all people, no one may be guaranteed a just result.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[4]
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” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Ginger Bock answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
| “ | My grandparents were amazing role models. My two grandfathers worked at the Studebaker factory in South Bend, Indiana and both lost their jobs when it shut down. Both sets of grandparents took this immense loss as an opportunity. My paternal grandparents started their own highly successful import/export business. My maternal grandfather went back to school and eventually taught classes at a junior college. My grandparents had a strong work ethic and desire to succeed. Those traits were instilled in my parents and in me.[4] | ” |
| “ | First, I am able to put aside my personal beliefs to make decisions based strictly on the facts and the law. Judges should not be liberal or conservative—they should be fair and impartial. Second, having worked at the First District Court of Appeals and having dedicated my career primarily to handling appeals, I have a deep understanding of this niche area of law. Third, I thrive on hard work. In addition to being fair and impartial, judges must have a strong work ethic. An elected official is a public servant. Too often, public servants (judges included) treat their positions as part-time jobs, even when they are meant to be full time. In Hamilton County, judicial seats are full time positions. As such, judges should work five full days per week. It is not possible for a judge to be prepared for all cases without working a full-time schedule. Finally, having worked for years in the non-profit sector, I have worked closely with real people that are affected every day by the decisions made by those in authority. I understand their issues and struggles.[4] | ” |
| “ | The most important people in my world are my four- and two-year old sons. Everything that I do in my life is to make this world a better place for my children and other people’s children. The legacy I want to leave is to expand access to our judicial system such that every single person can feel confident that they are treated exactly like I would want my own children to be treated—fairly, equally, and with the opportunity to be heard.[4] | ” |
| “ | Unfortunately, Pink Fluffy Unicorns Dancing On Rainbows has been stuck in my head for months. My two children adore this song. My husband and I, however, find it annoying. Nevertheless, because our little boys love it, we hear it quite frequently. My husband and I find ourselves singing it after our children are in bed. As a public service announcement, I recommend that you do not google the song because you, too, will be humming along.[4] | ” |
| “ | I have focused my legal career primarily on appellate advocacy. Through my work in various courts, including my two-year clerkship at the First District Court of Appeals, I have seen many things that I like about how courts work and some things that should be changed. I believe that some improvements will make the First District Court of Appeals the best court it can be. First, I want to improve the transparency of the Court. In recent years, the Court has taken steps to make it less mysterious, such as holding community courts and inviting in students. I want to build on this momentum. Many decisions from the Court are two- or three-page journal entries that do not adequately inform parties why they have won or lost. Not only is it good practice to issue a full decision with the legal reasoning behind each decision, but also it helps increase trust in the system when people understand why a court rules in a particular way. Second, I want to expand access to the Court. Part of this is ensuring that litigants have the ability to adequately explain and argue their issues. Currently, the default is for cases to be placed on the accelerated docket, which restricts the number of pages and prohibits appellants from submitting reply briefs. Parties and their attorneys should have the opportunity to argue their cases in an adequate number of pages and to respond in writing to the other parties' assertions in their briefs. Third, my work ethic makes me an ideal candidate for an appellate court judge. I was raised in a small town by parents who worked long hours. My parents taught their children to value a hard day's work. My first job was at age 13 on a farm. I have owned my own business and know that hard work equals better results. Many attorneys have experienced the disappointment of appearing before a judge who is not prepared or who has not taken the time to understand the nuanced issues. Being a judge means being a public servant. I will take that responsibility very seriously. Whether it takes 40 hours per week or 80, I will be thoroughly prepared for every single case that appears before me. I enjoy reading, writing, and researching. All parties who appear before me would know that I read their briefs, did my research, and could feel confident that win or lose, at least they had a judge who listened and understood their issues.[4] | ” |
| “ | I have never been a judge. I have, however, worked at the First District Court of Appeals. My two-year clerkship was akin to a two-year intense class on appellate law. I saw first-hand how the court functioned. I had the opportunity to experience top-rate appellate advocacy and understand the nuances of this area of law. After my clerkship, I have focused my career primarily on appeals. I have handled appeals in state and federal appellate courts in many areas of law. I have appellate experience from the inside and the outside of the Court of Appeals. Simply having judicial experience is not enough. Real appellate experience is important to effectively serving the public as an appellate judge in this niche area of law.[4] | ” |
| “ | My primary concern is that judges who are complacent are damaging our justice system. I have appeared in front of some excellent judges who are prepared for every case and offer fully-reasoned decisions that inform parties why the Court reached its decision. But I have also experienced the sinking feeling of disappointment and anger when I have appeared in front of a judge who is clearly unprepared and, in some cases, has not even read the briefs. There is no excuse for this lack of interest in the parties that appear before the court. Judges are public servants. As such, they are paid by the taxpayers to serve the public. It is their job to be prepared for each and every case that appears before them. How can the public have confidence in the fairness of the judicial system, or in any particular decision, when there are judges who do not do their jobs? In my part of Ohio, many judicial races have been unopposed. The same names have dominated the justice system for as long as I can remember. It is time for a change so that the public can be assured that judges treat their seats with the respect that those positions deserve. Any judge who does not understand or fulfill their responsibility to serve the public should be held accountable by the voters.[4] | ” |
| “ | I am not running as a stepping stone. I want to work as a judge in this particular court and remain there for as long as I am able. I began my legal career in the First District Court of Appeals. If the voters will allow me to do so, I want to end my career in the First District Court of Appeals.[4] | ” |
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Ohio," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Ginger Bock's responses," April 10, 2018
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio
State courts:
Ohio Supreme Court • Ohio District Courts of Appeal • Ohio Courts of Common Pleas • Ohio County Courts • Ohio Municipal Courts • Ohio Court of Claims
State resources:
Courts in Ohio • Ohio judicial elections • Judicial selection in Ohio
