Karen Phipps
Karen Phipps is a judge of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division in Ohio. Phipps assumed office in 2019. Phipps' current term ends on January 3, 2031.
Phipps (Nonpartisan, Democratic Party) ran for re-election for judge of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division in Ohio. Phipps won in the general election on November 5, 2024. Phipps advanced from the Democratic primary on March 19, 2024.
Biography
Prior to her election to the bench, Phipps worked as a solo practitioner in civil and criminal law.[1] She hold's a B.A. from Capital University and a J.D. from Capital Law School.[2]
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Franklin County, Ohio (2024)
General election
General election for Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Incumbent Karen Phipps won election in the general election for Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Karen Phipps (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 316,542 |
| Total votes: 316,542 | |||
 = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Incumbent Karen Phipps advanced from the Democratic primary for Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Karen Phipps | 100.0 | 60,186 |
| Total votes: 60,186 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Phipps in this election.
2018
General election
General election for Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Karen Phipps defeated Jim Hughes in the general election for Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Karen Phipps (D) | 58.7 | 229,359 |
| Jim Hughes (R) | 41.3 | 161,311 | ||
| Total votes: 390,670 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Karen Phipps advanced from the Democratic primary for Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Karen Phipps | 100.0 | 67,579 |
| Total votes: 67,579 | |||
| = 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 Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division
Jim Hughes advanced from the Republican primary for Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jim Hughes | 100.0 | 41,364 | |
| Total votes: 41,364 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 391 judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are all selected in an identical manner. Qualified individuals wishing to join the bench must participate in partisan primary elections followed by nonpartisan general elections.[3]
The chief judges of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are chosen by peer vote and serve for one year.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must be:[3]
- a district or county resident (for court of appeals and common pleas judges);
- at least six years practiced in law; and
- under the age of 70.
Under the Ohio Constitution, a judge who reaches 70 years of age may be assigned by the chief justice to active duty, receiving payment on a per-day basis in addition to whatever retirement benefits he or she is entitled to.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Karen Phipps did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Karen Phipps participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on April 6, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Karen Phipps's responses follow below.[4]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Equitable Sentences |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | Not applicable to Judicial Candidates.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[6]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Karen Phipps answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
| “ | I look up to the experienced sitting Judges assigned to the court that I am running for. The reason I look up to these individuals is because I have spent my 15 year career before these Judges almost daily. I have learned how best to run the docket and court room by watching these Judges work. I appreciate the example they have provided and they have helped me determine how I will run my court room if I am fortunate enough to be elected.[6] | ” |
| “ | Experience, knowledge of the position held, compassion, ethical values and having the qualifications to fill the position.[6] | ” |
| “ | I have the experience, the knowledge, and qualifications to be the type of judge people would want to appear before. The type of judge that helps every person who appears in court know and feel that their case is important and they are an individual. I have been in the court rooms in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division almost daily for the past 15 years. I have learned by watching the experienced Judges and I know what it takes to handle this job with the patience, fairness and competency this community needs.[6] | ” |
| “ | The core responsibilities of someone elected to the position of Judge on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division are to manage both the civil and criminal docket in a timely manner. The Judge is responsible to rule on motions, preside over trials and plea hearings, and sentence criminal defendants in a fair and equitable manner.[6] | ” |
| “ | As an attorney I have struggled with ensuring the law is applied equitably. I have spent the last fifteen years defending clients and protecting their constitutional rights. To ensure that all are treated equally in the court room. If I am fortunate to be elected I plan to take this experience to the bench.[6] | ” |
| “ | All people are equal and should be treated as such.[6] | ” |
| “ | Ruth Bader Ginsburg.[6] | ” |
| “ | Absolutely.[6] | ” |
| “ | In general I believe that most people in the community are not aware of what the judges on different Courts do. I believe that it is important for both candidates and incumbents to help educate the public on what the Court is responsible for.[6] | ” |
| “ | I have not.[6] | ” |
| “ | I do not have an answer to this question as I have not been screened by any Bar Associations yet.[6] | ” |
| “ | I am running for this seat because the Judge in this position is retiring which makes it an open seat.[6] | ” |
| “ | I believe the fifteen years of trial experience I have is important for this position.[6] | ” |
| “ | I do not believe experience in politics is what makes a judge effective, it is having court room experience and trial experience that is beneficial.[6] | ” |
| “ | The primary concern for today's legal system is the opiate crisis, the harm it causes to families and the community.[6] | ” |
| “ | I believe the greatest opportunity for the legal system in Ohio is to aid in the recovery of the individuals who are in the system because of either their mental health issues or drug addiction.[6] | ” |
| “ | I do not have an answer for this at this time, I am focused on the current election.[6] | ” |
Noteworthy cases
Sentencing of Mike Davis in child pornography possession case
On May 28, 2020, Phipps sentenced former 10TV chief meteorologist Mike Davis to four years in prison for possession of pornographic images of minors.[7] Davis was arrested in September 2019 and charged with three counts of pandering sexually explicit material involving a minor and one count of possession of such material. 10TV terminated Davis' employment as a result, stating in an article on their website reporting on the arrest, "We have decided to end our relationship with Mike Davis due to a violation of certain terms of his employment with WBNS. We have no further comment."[8]
Davis was indicted and pleaded not guilty in October 2019, but later pleaded guilty to the four felony charges on January 30, 2020.[9][10]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "New year brings new judges to Franklin County bench, including recent appointee," January 4, 2019
- ↑ Judicial Votes Count, "Karen Phipps," accessed May 28, 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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, "Karen Phipps's responses," April 6, 2018
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "Former 10TV meteorologist Mike Davis sentenced on child porn charges," May 28, 2020
- ↑ 10TV, "10TV Meteorologist Mike Davis charged with child pornography," September 5, 2019
- ↑ 10TV, "Mike Davis pleads not guilty to 4 counts related to child pornography," October 21, 2019
- ↑ NBC4, "Former 10TV meteorologist Mike Davis pleads guilty to child pornography charges," January 30, 2020
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
