Ohio Supreme Court elections

There are seven justices on the Ohio Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Ohio judicial elections page.

Judicial selection

See also: Judicial selection in Ohio

The seven justices of the Ohio Supreme Court are selected through partisan primaries and partisan general elections. Previously, these judges were selected through partisan primaries and nonpartisan general elections, known as the Michigan method.

All judges serve six-year terms, after which they are required to run for re-election if they wish to remain on the court.

Qualifications

To serve on the Ohio Supreme Court, a judge must:

• have at least six years in the practice of law;
• be licensed to practice law in the state for at least one year preceding appointment or commencement of the judge's term;
• be a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the U.S.; or and
• be under the age of 70.

Chief justice

The chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court is chosen by voters at large, serving a full six-year term in that capacity.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

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.

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.

2024

See also: Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2024

Donnelly's seat: term commencing January 1, 2025

General election

General election for Ohio Supreme Court

Megan E. Shanahan defeated incumbent Michael P. Donnelly in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Megan E. Shanahan (R)	55.6	3,025,884
		Michael P. Donnelly (D)	44.4	2,415,507

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,441,391
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Michael P. Donnelly advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael P. Donnelly	100.0	462,982

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 462,982
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Megan E. Shanahan advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Megan E. Shanahan	100.0	836,768

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 836,768
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Stewart's seat: term commencing January 2, 2025

General election

General election for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Joseph Deters defeated incumbent Melody Stewart in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joseph Deters (R)	55.1	2,997,144
		Melody Stewart (D)	44.9	2,443,066

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,440,210
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Melody Stewart advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Melody Stewart	100.0	459,539

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 459,539
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Joseph Deters advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joseph Deters	100.0	835,968

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 835,968
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Deters' seat: unexpired term ending December 31, 2026

General election

Special general election for Ohio Supreme Court

Dan Hawkins defeated Lisa Forbes in the special general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dan Hawkins (R)	55.0	2,998,592
		Lisa Forbes (D)	45.0	2,456,462

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,455,054
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Lisa Forbes defeated Terri Jamison in the special Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Forbes	63.8	310,635
		Terri Jamison	36.2	175,965

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 486,600
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Dan Hawkins advanced from the special Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dan Hawkins	100.0	810,411

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 810,411
= 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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2022

See also: Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2022

Chief Judge (O'Connor's seat)

General election

General election for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice

Incumbent Sharon L. Kennedy defeated incumbent Jennifer L. Brunner in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sharon L. Kennedy (R)	56.1	2,307,415
		Jennifer L. Brunner (D)	43.9	1,807,133

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,114,548
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice

Incumbent Jennifer L. Brunner advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer L. Brunner	100.0	445,711

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 445,711
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice

Incumbent Sharon L. Kennedy advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sharon L. Kennedy	100.0	814,717

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 814,717
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Judge (Fischer's seat)

General election

General election for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Pat Fischer defeated Terri Jamison in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pat Fischer (R)	56.9	2,330,575
		Terri Jamison (D)	43.1	1,764,845

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,095,420
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Terri Jamison advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Terri Jamison	100.0	418,525

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 418,525
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Pat Fischer advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pat Fischer	100.0	788,538

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 788,538
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Judge (DeWine's seat)

General election

General election for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Pat DeWine defeated Marilyn Zayas in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pat DeWine (R)	56.3	2,306,428
		Marilyn Zayas (D)	43.7	1,789,384

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,095,812
= 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 Supreme Court

Marilyn Zayas advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Marilyn Zayas	100.0	406,732

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 406,732
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Pat DeWine advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pat DeWine	100.0	719,162

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 719,162
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2020

French's seat

General election

General election for Ohio Supreme Court

Jennifer L. Brunner defeated incumbent Judith French in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer L. Brunner (Nonpartisan)	55.3	2,695,072
		Judith French (Nonpartisan)	44.7	2,174,820

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,869,892
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Jennifer L. Brunner advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer L. Brunner	100.0	675,231

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 675,231
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Judith French advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Judith French	100.0	618,739

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 618,739
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Kennedy's seat

General election

General election for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Sharon L. Kennedy defeated John P. O'Donnell in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sharon L. Kennedy (Nonpartisan)	55.1	2,735,041
		John P. O'Donnell (Nonpartisan)	44.9	2,231,724

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,966,765
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court

John P. O'Donnell advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John P. O'Donnell	100.0	659,196

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 659,196
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Sharon L. Kennedy advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sharon L. Kennedy	100.0	637,255

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 637,255
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2018

General election

General election for Ohio Supreme Court

Michael P. Donnelly defeated Craig Baldwin in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael P. Donnelly (D)	61.0	2,170,227
		Craig Baldwin (R)	39.0	1,385,435

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,555,662
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Michael P. Donnelly advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael P. Donnelly	100.0	501,831

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 501,831
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Craig Baldwin advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Craig Baldwin	100.0	595,000

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 595,000
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Ohio Supreme Court

Melody Stewart defeated incumbent Mary DeGenaro in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Melody Stewart (D)	52.6	1,853,418
		Mary DeGenaro (R)	47.4	1,667,258

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,520,676
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Ohio Supreme Court

Incumbent Mary DeGenaro and Melody Stewart advanced from the primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary DeGenaro (R)	53.8	581,244
✔		Melody Stewart (D)	46.2	500,084

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 1,081,328
= 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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2016

Main article: Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2016

Three seats on the Ohio Supreme Court were on the general election ballot on November 8, 2016. A primary election was held on March 15, 2016. The seats were held by Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, Justice Paul Pfeifer, and Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger heading into the election. Each justice elected to the court serves a six-year term. The court had a 6-1 Republican majority based on the state party nominations of justices prior to the nonpartisan general elections.

General election candidates

See also: Ohio judicial elections, 2016

The following candidates advanced from the March 15 primary.

Justice O'Connor's seat

■ Maureen O'Connor (R) (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Justice Lanzinger's seat

• Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger (R) reached the mandatory retirement age.
  

■ John P. O'Donnell (D)
■ Pat Fischer (R)

Justice Pfeifer's seat

• Justice Paul Pfeifer (R) reached the mandatory retirement age.
  

■ Cynthia Rice (D)
■ Pat DeWine (R)

Election results

November 8 general election

Incumbent Maureen O'Connor (Ohio) ran unopposed in the general election for the Ohio Supreme Court, O'Connor's seat.

Ohio Supreme Court, O'Connor's Seat, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Maureen O'Connor (Ohio) Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	3,562,413
Total Votes (100% reporting)				3,562,413
Source: Ohio Secretary of State Official Results

Pat Fischer defeated John P. O'Donnell in the general election for the Ohio Supreme Court, Lanziger's seat.

Ohio Supreme Court, Lanziger's Seat, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Pat Fischer	50.28%	2,044,984
	Democratic	John P. O'Donnell	49.72%	2,022,514
Total Votes (100% reporting)				4,067,498
Source: Ohio Secretary of State Official Results

Pat DeWine defeated Cynthia Rice in the general election for the Ohio Supreme Court, Pfeiffer's seat.

Ohio Supreme Court, Pfeifer's Seat, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Pat DeWine	56.31%	2,438,641
	Democratic	Cynthia Rice	43.69%	1,892,450
Total Votes (100% reporting)				4,331,091
Source: Ohio Secretary of State Official Results

March 15 primary election

Ohio Supreme Court, Justice O'Connor's Seat Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Maureen O'Connor Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	1,353,231
Total Votes				1,353,231
Source: Ohio Secretary of State Official Results

Ohio Supreme Court, Justice Lazinger's Seat Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Pat Fischer	54.26%	761,771
	Republican	Colleen O'Toole	45.74%	642,048
Total Votes				1,403,819
Source: Ohio Secretary of State Official Results

Ohio Supreme Court, Justice Lazinger's Seat Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John P. O'Donnell  (unopposed)	100.00%	776,945
Total Votes				776,945
Source: Ohio Secretary of State Official Results

Ohio Supreme Court, Justice Pfiefer's Seat Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Pat DeWine  (unopposed)	100.00%	1,336,648
Total Votes				1,336,648
Source: Ohio Secretary of State Official Results

Ohio Supreme Court, Justice Pfiefer's Seat Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Cynthia Rice  (unopposed)	100.00%	807,997
Total Votes				807,997
Source: Ohio Secretary of State Official Results

2014

See also: Ohio judicial elections, 2014

Term commencing 1/1/15

Candidate	Incumbency	Party	Primary Vote	Election Vote
LetsonTom Letson	Yes	Democratic	100%A	27.5%   D
KennedySharon L. KennedyA	Yes	Republican	100%A	72.5%   A

Term commencing 1/2/15

Candidate	Incumbency	Party	Primary Vote	Election Vote
O'DonnellJohn P. O'Donnell	No	Democratic	100%A
FrenchJudith FrenchA	Yes	Republican	100%A	55.9%   A

2012

See also: Ohio judicial elections, 2012

Candidate	Incumbency	Party	Term	Primary Vote	Election Vote
SkindellMike Skindell	No	Democratic	Term commencing 1/1/2013		30.87%   A
CuppRobert Cupp	Yes	Republican	Term commencing 1/2/2013		47.48%   A
KennedySharon L. Kennedy   A	No	Republican			57.02%   A
O'DonnellTerrence O'Donnell (Ohio)   A	Yes	Republican			69.12%   A
O'NeillWilliam O'Neill (Ohio)   A	No	Democratic		71.3%A	52.51%   A
McGee BrownYvette McGee Brown	Yes	Democratic			42.97%   A

2010

In the November general election, Justice Maureen O'Connor ran against incumbent Chief Justice Eric Brown for the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Brown was appointed to the seat by Governor Ted Strickland in April 2010. O'Connor won the seat.

Incumbent Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger ran against Mary Jane Trapp, a judge on the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals, for the term commencing on January 1, 2011 seat. Lanzinger won re-election.

Incumbent Justice Paul Pfeifer ran unopposed for the term commencing on January 2, 2011 seat.

See also: Ohio judicial elections, 2010

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Party Primary votes Primary % Election votes Election % Maureen O'Connor A Yes Chief Justice Republican 663,818 100.0% 2,232,724 67.6% Eric Brown No Chief Justice Democratic 521,010 100.0% 1,070,690 32.4% Judith Ann Lanzinger A Yes Term commencing January 1, 2011 Republican 623,598 100.0% 1,717,889 56.6% Mary Jane Trapp No Term commencing January 1, 2011 Democratic 509,509 100.0% 1,315,105 43.4% Uncontested candidates Candidate Incumbent Paul Pfeifer A Yes
Candidates
Maureen O'Connor O'Connor received her B.A. in 1973 from Seton Hill College and her J.D. in 1980 from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. After graduating from law school, O'Connor practiced law for four years. In 1985, she was appointed Magistrate to the Summit County Probate Court. She served in this capacity until joining the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in 1993. O'Connor was the prosecuting attorney for Summit County from 1995 to 1999. In 1998, she was elected Lieutenant Governor, a position she held until her election to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2002. Eric Brown Brown received a B.A. in history from Cleveland State University in 1975 and his J.D. from Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 1979. Brown served as the Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court from May of 2010 until January of 2011. Previously, he was the judge for the Franklin County Probate Court in Columbus, Ohio. He joined the probate court in 2005. Judith Ann Lanzinger Lanzinger received her undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo in 1968 and her J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1977. After graduating from law school, Lanzinger practiced law, first with The Toledo Edison Company and then with a private firm, from 1978 to 1985. In that same year, she joined the Toledo Municipal Court. In 1988, Lanzinger was elected a judge on the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. She stayed on this court until her election to the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals in 2002. Lanzinger was then elected to the Supreme Court on November 2, 2004. Mary Jane Trapp Trapp received her undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1978 and her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University in 1981. Trapp was a Presiding/Administrative Judge on the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals. Before becoming a judge, Trapp worked as a trial and appellate lawyer in various Ohio and Pennsylvania courts for 25 years. She also worked as a mediator and arbitrator for the common pleas courts and as a guardian ad litem for a domestic relations court. Trapp was elected to the Court of Appeals in 2006.
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Maureen O'Connor $895,043 Ohio Republican Party Lawyers and Lobbyists: $192,785 Insurance: $151,070 Health Professionals: $124,507 Eric Brown $592,573 Ohio Democratic Party Ohio Education Association Lawyers and Lobbyists: $323,116 General Trade Unions: $54,600 Public Sector Unions: $36,025 Judith Ann Lanzinger $844,047 Ohio Republican Party Cooper Tire & Rubber Ohio Farm Bureau Lawyers and Lobbyists: $188,495 Insurance: $152,685 Health Professionals: $114,667 Mary Jane Trapp $534,190 Mary Jane Trapp Ohio Democratic Party Ohio AFL-CIO Lawyers and Lobbyists: $193,798 Candidate self-finance: $170,369 Party Committees: $55,121 Paul Pfeifer $32,662 Non-contributions: $32,662

2008

In the November 2008 general election, incumbent Justice Maureen O'Connor ran against Judge Joseph Russo, of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, for the term commencing on January 1, 2009 seat. O'Connor won re-election.

Incumbent Justice Evelyn Stratton ran against Judge Peter Sikora, of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, for the term beginning on January 2, 2009 seat. Stratton won re-election.

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Party Primary votes Primary % Election votes Election % Maureen O'Connor A Yes Term commencing January 1, 2009 Republican 782,423 100% 2,970,588 67.1% Joseph Russo No Term commencing January 1, 2009 Democratic 1,415,692 100% 1,453,784 32.9% Evelyn Stratton A Yes Term commencing January 2, 2009 Republican 716,835 100% 2,664,137 63.1% Peter Sikora No Term commencing January 2, 2009 Democratic 1,267,130 100% 1,554,521 36.9%
Candidates
Maureen O'Connor O'Connor received her B.A. in 1973 from Seton Hill College and her J.D. in 1980 from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. After graduating from law school, O'Connor practiced law for four years. In 1985, she was appointed Magistrate to the Summit County Probate Court. She served in this capacity until joining the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in 1993. O'Connor was the prosecuting attorney for Summit County from 1995 to 1999. In 1998 she was elected Lieutenant Governor, a position she held until her election to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2002. Joseph Russo Russo earned his B.A. in history and political science from Case Western Reserve University in 1985 and his J.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1991. He became a judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in 2001. Before he became a judge, Russo practiced law at his own firm, Law Office of Joseph D. Russo Co., L.P.A. and the law firm of Landskroner & Phillips. Evelyn Stratton Stratton received her A.A. from the University of Florida at Gainesville in 1974, her B.A. in history from the University of Akron in 1976 and her J.D. from The Ohio State University in 1979. Before joining the Ohio Supreme Court in 1996, Stratton served as a judge on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and worked as an attorney in private practice. Peter Sikora Sikora received his undergraduate degree from Baldwin-Wallace College and his J.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He became a judge on the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court in 1989. Prior to his judicial appointment, Sikora served as the deputy legal counsel to former Governor Richard Celeste and as a deputy director and general counsel to the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Maureen O'Connor $1,008,109 Ohio Republican Party Lawyers and Lobbyists: $246,681 Insurance: $154,396 Health Professionals: $145,652 Joseph Russo $244,262 Ohio Democratic Party Lawyers and Lobbyists: $69,288 Public Sector Unions: $16,500 Party Committees: $15,372 Evelyn Stratton $1,017,941 Ohio Republican Party Lawyers and Lobbyists: $245,972 Insurance: $151,576 Party Committees: $106,280 Peter Sikora $183,785 Ohio Democratic Party Lawyers and Lobbyists: $76,378 General Trade Unions: $24,470 Party Committees: $22,440

Clean Campaign Agreement

All four candidates for the Supreme Court signed a Clean Campaign Agreement from the Judicial Election Campaign Advertising Monitoring Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association. The agreement was designed to focus on "credentials, judicial temperament and experience...that demonstrate the dignity and respects the office deserves."

2006

In the November 2006 general election, incumbent Justice Terrence O'Donnell was again challenged by Judge William O'Neill, of the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals. O'Neill previously ran against O'Donnell in 2004, as O'Donnell competed in his first election to the Supreme Court. O'Donnell won re-election.

Robert Cupp, judge on the Ohio Third District Court of Appeals, ran against Ben Espy, a former Columbus City Council member and state senator, for the position commencing on January 2, 2007. Cupp won the seat.

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Party Primary votes Primary % Election votes Election % Terrence O'Donnell A Yes Term commencing January 1, 2007 Republican 607,109 100% 1,903,702 58.7% William O'Neill No Term commencing January 1, 2007 Democratic 395,239 53.2% 1,341,258 41.3% Robert Cupp A No Term commencing January 2, 2007 Republican 564,838 100% 1,712,584 53.2% Ben Espy No Term commencing January 2, 2007 Democratic 350,505 51.3% 1,505,255 46.8%
Candidates
Terrence O'Donnell O'Donnell received his B.A. in political science from Kent State University in 1968 and his J.D. from Cleveland State University in 1971. Before joining the Ohio Supreme Court in 2003, O'Donnell served as a judge for both the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals from 1995 until 2003 and for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas from 1982 through 1994. Prior to his judicial service, O'Donnell practiced law with the firm Marshman, Snyder & Corrigan and was a law clerk for both the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court. William O'Neill O'Neill received his undergraduate degree from Ohio University, his J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, and a nursing degree from the Huron School of Nursing. O'Neill became a judge for the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals in 1997. Before that, he served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Ohio from 1984 until 1996. Robert Cupp Cupp received his B.A. in political science from Ohio Northern University in 1973 and his J.D. from Ohio Northern's Pettit College of Law in 1976. Cupp became a judge on the Ohio Third District Court of Appeals in 2000. Before becoming a judge, Cupp served on the Ohio Senate from 1985 to 2000. He has also worked as both a city prosecutor and assistant director of law for Lima, Ohio and as a county commissioner for Allen County. Ben Espy Espy received his undergraduate degree from the Ohio State University and his J.D. from Howard University. Before running for a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court, Espy served as a Columbus City Council member and a member of the Ohio Senate.
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Terrence O'Donnell $1,072,462 Ohio Republican Party Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur Carl H. and Martha S. Lindner, III Lawyers and Lobbyists: $281,866 Insurance: $281,866 Party Committees: $281,866 William O'Neill $40,235 William O'Neill Kent Marcus Candidate Self-finance: $37,500 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $450 Candidate Committees: $450 Robert Cupp $999,420 Ohio Republican Party Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur Carl H. Lindner, Jr. Lawyers and Lobbyists: $189,183 Insurance: $189,183 Health Professionals: $189,183 Ben Espy $503,010 Ohio Democratic Party Ohio AFSCME Ohio Federation of Teachers Lawyers and Lobbyists: $133,020 Party Committees: $127,475 General Trade Unions: $60,750

2004

In the November 2004 general election, incumbent Chief Justice Thomas Moyer ran against Ellen Connally, a Cleveland Municipal Court judge, for the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Moyer won re-election.

Incumbent Justice Terrence O'Donnell was challenged by Judge William O'Neill, of the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals, for the unexpired term to which O'Donnell was appointed in May 2003. O'Donnell won the seat.

Judith Ann Lanzinger, a judge for the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals, ran against Nancy A. Fuerst, a Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas judge for the term beginning on January 1, 2005. Lanzinger won the seat.

Incumbent Justice Paul Pfeifer ran uncontested for the term beginning on January 2, 2005.

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Party Primary votes Primary % Election votes Election % Thomas Moyer A Yes Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Republican 658,235 100.0% 2,358,135 53.2% Ellen Connally No Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Democratic 846,191 100.0% 2,073,886 46.8% Terrence O'Donnell A Yes Unexpired term Republican 594,936 100.0% 2,560,609 60.5% William O'Neill No Unexpired term Democratic 843,678 100.0% 1,671,827 39.5% Judith Ann Lanzinger A No Term commencing January 1, 2005 Republican 599,873 100.0% 2,500,966 57.0% Nancy A. Fuerst No Term commencing January 1, 2005 Democratic 594,918 60.2% 1,885,959 43.0% Uncontested candidates Candidate Incumbent Paul Pfeifer A Yes
Candidates
Thomas Moyer Moyer earned his B.A. in political science from the Ohio State University and his J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1964. Moyer was first elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in November 1986 and assumed office on January 1, 1987. He has also served as a judge for the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals from 1979 to 1986 and as an executive assistant to Governor James A. Rhodes from 1975 to 1979. Prior to his judicial service, Moyer worked as an attorney in private practice, most recently with the law firm of Crabbe, Brown, Jones, Potts & Schmidt from 1972 to 1975. Ellen Connally Connally received her B.S. in social studies teacher education from Bowling Green State University, her master's degree in American history from Cleveland State University, and her J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She was elected to the Cleveland Municipal Court in 1979, becoming the first African American female judge in Ohio without first being appointed. Terrence O'Donnell O'Donnell received his B.A. in political science from Kent State University in 1968 and his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1971. Before joining the Ohio Supreme Court in 2003, O'Donnell served as a judge for both the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals from 1995 until 2003 and for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas from 1982 to 1994. Prior to his judicial service, O'Donnell practiced law with the firm Marshman, Snyder & Corrigan and was a law clerk for both the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court. William O'Neill O'Neill received his undergraduate degree from Ohio University, his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, and a nursing degree from the Huron School of Nursing. O'Neill became a judge for the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals in 1997. Before that, he served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Ohio from 1984 until 1996. Judith Ann Lanzinger Lanzinger received her undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo in 1968 and her J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1977. After graduating from law school, Lanzinger practiced law, first with The Toledo Edison Company and then with a private firm, from 1978 to 1985. In that same year, she joined the Toledo Municipal Court. In 1988, Lanzinger was elected a judge on the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. She stayed on this court until her election to the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals in 2002. Lanzinger was then elected to the Ohio Supreme Court on November 2, 2004. Nancy A. Fuerst Fuerst received her B.A. in economics from Cleveland State University and her J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She became a judge on the general division of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in 1997. Before that, Fuerst worked as an attorney in the general practice of law from 1989 to 1996 and as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court from 1988 to 1989.
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Thomas Moyer $1,489,541 Ohio Republican Party Hamilton County Republican Party Summit County Republican Party Lawyers and Lobbyists: $451,587 Insurance: $206,483 Health Professionals: $132,674 Ellen Connally $209,081 Ohio Democratic Party Ohio State Auto Workers Law Offices of Matthew W. Chapel Lawyers and Lobbyists: $93,996 Party Committees: $57,546 Transportation Unions: $5,600 Terrence O'Donnell $1,592,491 Ohio Republican Party Columbiana County Republican Party Hamilton County Republican Party Lawyers and Lobbyists: $313,333 Insurance: $223,780 Party Committees: $178,311 William O'Neill $73,790 Ohio Democratic Party Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 392 Pipefitters Local 120 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $28,009 General Trade Unions: $18,460 Party Committees: $5,605 Judith Ann Lanzinger $1,647,958 Ohio Republican Party Columbiana County Republican Party Hamilton County Republican Party Lawyers and Lobbyists: $264,246 Insurance: $241,149 Party Committees: $237,921 Nancy A. Fuerst $977,542 George G. Burke, Jr. Kelley & Ferraro Nurenberg, Plevin, Heller & McCarthy Lawyers and Lobbyists: $750,872 General Trade Unions: $31,025 Public Sector Unions: $23,775 Paul Pfeifer $99,058 Ohio Education Association Lawyers and Lobbyists: $65,000 Public Sector Unions: $11,500 General Trade Unions: $1,000

2002

In the November 5, 2002 general election, Maureen O'Connor, the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, ran against Timothy S. Black, a Hamilton County Municipal Court judge, for the term commencing on January 1, 2003. O'Connor was elected to the court.

Incumbent Justice Evelyn Stratton ran against Janet R. Burnside, a judge for the general division of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, for the term commencing on January 2, 2003. Stratton was re-elected.

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Party Election votes Election % Maureen O'Connor A No Term commencing January 1, 2003 Republican 1,709,673 57.3% Timothy S. Black No Term commencing January 1, 2003 Democratic 1,276,497 42.7% Evelyn Stratton A Yes Term commencing January 2, 2003 Republican 1,599,165 55.3% Janet R. Burnside No Term commencing January 2, 2003 Democratic 1,290,412 44.7%
Candidates
Maureen O'Connor O'Connor received her B.A. in 1973 from Seton Hill College and her J.D. in 1980 from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. After graduating from law school, O'Connor practiced law for four years. In 1985, she was appointed Magistrate to the Summit County Probate Court. She served in this capacity until joining the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in 1993. O'Connor was the prosecuting attorney for Summit County from 1995 to 1999. In 1998 she was elected Lieutenant Governor for the State of Ohio. Timothy S. Black Black received his A.B. degree from Harvard University in 1975 and his law degree from Chase College of Law in 1983. Black became a judge on the Hamilton County Municipal Court in 2000. Before that, he practiced law with the firm of Graydon, Head, and Ritchey in Cincinnati, Ohio. Evelyn Stratton Stratton received her A.A. from the University of Florida at Gainesville in 1974, her B.A. in history from the University of Akron in 1976, and her J.D. from the Ohio State University in 1979. Before joining the Ohio Supreme Court in 1996, Stratton served as a judge on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and worked as an attorney in private practice. Janet R. Burnside Burnside received her undergraduate degree in mathematics in 1967, her master's degree in computer science in 1970, and her J.D. in 1977, all from the Ohio State University. Before becoming a judge for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in 1991, Burnside served as an acting judge for the Cleveland Municipal Court from 1985 to 1991, and worked as an attorney in private practice from 1978 to 1988.
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Maureen O'Connor $1,798,902 Ohio Republican Party Hamilton County Republican Party Ohio State Medical Association Health Professionals: $334,190 Insurance: $215,883 Party Committees: $209,641 Timothy S. Black $1,349,986 Ohio Democratic Party Ohio AFL-CIO Charles Kampinski Lawyers and Lobbyists: $845,651 Party Committees: $204,980 General Trade Unions: $119,050 Evelyn Stratton $1,899,313 Ohio Republican Party Hamilton County Republican Party Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease Health Professionals: $358,528 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $326,922 Insurance: $231,768 Janet R. Burnside $1,193,732 Ohio Democratic Party Ohio AFL-CIO Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Lawyers and Lobbyists: $826,041 Party Committees: $173,046 General Trade Unions: $71,900

2000

In the November 7, 2000 general election, incumbent Justice Deborah Cook ran against Timothy S. Black, a Hamilton County Municipal Court judge, for the term commencing on January 1, 2001. Cook was re-elected

Incumbent Justice Alice Resnick was challenged by Terrence O'Donnell, a judge for the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals, for the term commencing on January 2, 2001. Resnick was re-elected.

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Party Primary votes Primary % Election votes Election % Deborah Cook A Yes Term commencing January 1, 2001 Republican 948,526 100.0% 2,013,140 51.9% Timothy S. Black No Term commencing January 1, 2001 Democratic 405,184 54.6% 1,867,554 48.1% Alice Resnick A Yes Term commencing January 2, 2001 Democratic 716,031 100.0% 2,312,073 57.0% Terrence O'Donnell No Term commencing January 2, 2001 Republican 897,324 100.0% 1,740,516 43.0%
Candidates
Deborah Cook Cook received her undergraduate degree from the University of Akron in 1974 and her J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law in 1978. Cook began her legal career in private practice from 1978 to 1991 before being elected to the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals, where she served as a judge from 1991 to 1995. Cook was then elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1995. Timothy S. Black Black received his A.B. degree from Harvard University in 1975 and his J.D. from Chase College of Law in 1983. Black became a judge on the Hamilton County Municipal Court in 2000. Before that, he practiced law with the firm of Graydon, Head, and Ritchey in Cincinnati, Ohio. Alice Resnick Resnick received her undergraduate degree in history from Siena Heights University in 1961 and her J.D. from the University of Detroit College of Law in 1964. Before her election to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1988, Resnick served as a judge for both the Toledo Municipal Court from 1975 to 1982 and for the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals from 1982 to 1988. Prior to her judicial service, Resnick began her law career as an assistant prosecutor. Terrence O'Donnell O'Donnell received his B.A. in political science from Kent State University in 1968 and his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1971. Before joining the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals in 1995, O'Donnell served as a judge for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas from 1982 to 1994. Prior to becoming a judge, O'Donnell practiced law with the firm Marshman, Snyder & Corrigan and was a law clerk for both the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court.
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Deborah Cook $647,083 Summit County Republican Party Ohio Republican Party Motorists Mutual Insurance Insurance: $107,175 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $90,375 Party Committees: $90,375 Timothy S. Black $693,658 Committee to Re-elect Judge Black Ohio Education Association Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley Lawyers and Lobbyists: $463,465 General Trade Unions: $52,375 Public Sector Unions: $36,075 Alice Resnick $788,533 Ohio Education Association Tzangas, Plakas, Mannos & Recu Stephen J. Charmes Co., LPA Lawyers and Lobbyists: $629,913 General Trade Unions: $65,900 Public Sector Unions: $34,500 Terrence O'Donnell $1,117,044 Ohio Republican Party Thompson Hine & Flory Lawyers and Lobbyists: $205,770 Insurance: $167,145 Miscellaneous Manufacturing & Distributing: $66,645

1998

In the November 3, 1998 general election, incumbent Chief Justice Thomas Moyer ran against Gary Tyack, an Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals judge, for the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Moyer was re-elected.

Incumbent Justice Francis E. Sweeney, Sr. was challenged by Stephen Powell, a judge on the Ohio Twelfth District Court of Appeals, for the term commencing on January 1, 1999. Sweeney was re-elected.

Incumbent Justice Paul Pfeifer ran against Ronald Suster, a judge for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, for the term commencing on January 2, 1999. Pfeifer won the seat.

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Party Primary votes Primary % Election votes Election % Thomas Moyer A Yes Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Republican 598,221 100.0% 1,997,455 72.2% Gary Tyack No Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Democratic 545,503 100.0% 770,769 27.8% Francis E. Sweeney A Yes Term commencing January 1, 1999 Democratic 617,548 100.0% 1,677,791 61.5% Stephen Powell No Term commencing January 1, 1999 Republican 554,144 100.0% 1,049,561 38.5% Paul Pfeifer A Yes Term commencing January 2, 1999 Republican 567,600 100.0% 1,947,916 71.4% Ronald Suster No Term commencing January 2, 1999 Democratic 509,904 100.0% 781,103 28.6%
Candidates
Thomas Moyer Moyer earned his B.A. in political science from the Ohio State University and his J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1964. Moyer was first elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in November 1986 and assumed office on January 1, 1987. He has also served as a judge for the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals from 1979 to 1986 and as an executive assistant to Governor James A. Rhodes from 1975 to 1979. Prior to his judicial service, Moyer worked as an attorney in private practice, most recently with the law firm of Crabbe, Brown, Jones, Potts & Schmidt from 1972 to 1975. Gary Tyack Tyack received his B.A. in religion and math from the College of Wooster in 1968, his J.D. from the Ohio State University College of Law in 1974, and his master's degree in theological studies from the Methodist Theological School in 2000. After graduating from law school, Tyack worked as an attorney in private practice. In 1986, he joined the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals, but returned to his private law practice the next year. In 1991, he again joined the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals and has held the title of presiding judge in 1997 and administrative judge in 1996. Francis E. Sweeney Sweeney received his undergraduate degree from Xavier University, served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1958, then earned his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Sweeney has served as a judge on both the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals from 1988 to 1992 and the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas from 1970 to 1988. He became a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court in 1993. Before his judicial career, Sweeney worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office and as an attorney in the legal department of the Allstate Insurance Company. Stephen Powell Powell earned his undergraduate degree from Heidelberg College in 1977 and his J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law 1981. Powell became a judge on the Ohio Twelfth District Court of Appeals in 1991. Before that he served as a referee in the Butler County Domestic, Juvenile and Probate Courts from 1984 to 1989, and as both a Butler County municipal court judge and a Butler County Court of Common Pleas probate judge. Paul Pfeifer Pfeifer earned his B.A. in economics, political science, and history from the Ohio State University in 1963 and his J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1966. After graduating from law school, Pfeifer served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Ohio. He then practiced law with the firm of Cory, Brown and Pfeifer from 1972 to 1992 and served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Crawford County from 1973 to 1976. While Pfeifer was in private practice, he served in both the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio State Senate. In 1992, he was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court and assumed office on January 2, 1993. Ronald Suster Suster received his undergraduate degree from the Adelbert College of Case Western Reserve University in 1964 and his J.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1967. Suster became a judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in 1995. Before that, he was an elected state representative of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1981 to 1995. Suster has also served as a law director for the city of Highland Heights, as an assistant Ohio attorney general, and an assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor.
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Thomas Moyer $877,944 Ohio Republican Party Lawyers and Lobbyists: $242,549 Party Committees: $166,412 Insurance: $64,366 Gary Tyack $389,718 G. Gary Tyack Ohio Democratic Party A. William Zavarello Lawyers and Lobbyists: $200,050 Candidate Self-finance: $107,950 General Trade Unions: $23,100 Francis E. Sweeney $531,862 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $468,132 Public Sector Unions: $14,000 General Trade Unions: $13,550 Stephen Powell $211,259 Butler County Republican Party Ohio Republican Executive Committee Ohio Republican Party Party Committees: $57,083 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $43,335 Miscellaneous Manufacturing & Distributing: $16,475 Paul Pfeifer $575,848 Lawrence Firm Lawyers and Lobbyists: $444,309 Real Estate: $22,400 Public Sector Unions: $10,250 Ronald Suster $288,196 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $84,533 Insurance: $40,592 Candidate Committees: $12,534

1996

In the November 5, 1996 general election, incumbent Justice Andrew G. Douglas ran against Peter Sikora, a Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas judge, for the term commencing on January 1, 1997. Douglas was re-elected.

Marianna Brown Bettman, a judge on the Ohio First District Court of Appeals, ran against Evelyn Stratton, a judge on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, for the term commencing on January 2, 1997. Stratton was elected to the court.

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Party Election votes Election % Andrew G. Douglas A Yes Term commencing January 1, 1997 Republican 2,230,601 66.2% Peter Sikora No Term commencing January 1, 1997 Democratic 1,138,106 33.8% Marianna Brown Bettman No Term commencing January 2, 1997 Democratic 1,427,947 41.5% Evelyn Stratton A No Term commencing January 2, 1997 Republican 2,016,264 58.5%
Candidates
Andrew G. Douglas Douglas received his J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1959. He became a justice on the Ohio Supreme Court in 1985. Before that, Douglas was a judge on the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals from 1980 to 1984. He has also practiced law with his firm of Winchester & Douglas from 1960 to 1980 in Toledo, Ohio, and has served as a councilman for the Toledo City Council from 1961 to 1980. Peter Sikora Sikora received his undergraduate degree from Baldwin-Wallace College and his J.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He became a judge on the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court in 1989. Prior to his judicial appointment, Sikora served as the deputy legal counsel to former Governor Richard Celeste and as a deputy director and general counsel to the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Marianna Brown Bettman Bettman received her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1977. She became a judge on the Ohio First District Court of Appeals in 1993. Before she became a judge, Bettman worked as an attorney in private practice. Evelyn Stratton Stratton received her A.A. from the University of Florida at Gainesville in 1974, her B.A. in history from the University of Akron in 1976 and her J.D. from The Ohio State University in 1979. Stratton became a judge on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in 1989. Before she became a judge, Stratton worked as an attorney in private practice.
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Andrew G. Douglas $442,580 GUDPAC Murray & Murray Charles Kampinski Co. LPA Lawyers and Lobbyists: $281,033 Public Sector Unions: $20,000 General Trade Unions: $16,200 Peter Sikora $47,423 Peter Sikora Arter & Hadden Jones Day Reavis & Pogue Ohio PAC Candidate Self-finance: $5,328 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $4,750 Party Committees: $1,805 Marianna Brown Bettman $442,635 Hamilton County Democratic Judicial Campaign Stanley M. Chesley Lawyers and Lobbyists: $140,838 General Trade Unions: $13,700 Party Committees: $11,605 Evelyn Stratton $483,302 Committee to Re-elect Judge Evelyn Stratton Medlance PAC Lawyers and Lobbyists: $64,640 Candidate Self-finance: $22,999 Insurance: $12,266

1994

In the November 8, 1994 general election, Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals Judge Deborah Cook ran against J. Ross Haffey, an attorney practicing in Cleveland, for the term commencing on January 1, 1995. Judge Cook won the seat.

Sara J. Harper, a judge on the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals ran against Alice R. Resnick, a judge on the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals, for the term commencing on January 2, 1995. Resnick was elected to the court.

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Party Election votes Election % Deborah Cook A No Justice of the Supreme Court for the term commencing on January 1, 1995 Republican 1,842,063 68.1% J. Ross Haffey 2706849 No Justice of the Supreme Court for the term commencing on January 1, 1995 Independent 864,786 31.9% Sara J. Harper No Justice of the Supreme Court for the term commencing on January 2, 1995 Republican 1,144,143 41.0% Alice R. Resnick A Yes Justice of the Supreme Court for the term commencing on January 2, 1995 Democratic 1,645,061 59.0%
Candidates
Deborah Cook Cook received her undergraduate degree from the University of Akron in 1974 and her J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law in 1978. She became a judge for the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals in 1991. Before that, Cook worked as an attorney in private practice from 1978 to 1991. J. Ross Haffey Haffey received his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He began practicing law in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1964 with a focus in criminal, business, family, and probate law. Sara J. Harper Harper received both her undergraduate degree and her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University. She became a judge on the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals in 1990. Harper was the first woman to serve on the judiciary of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and was the president of the Cleveland NAACP in the early 1980s. Alice R. Resnick Resnick received her undergraduate degree from Siena Heights College in 1961 and her J.D. from the University of Detroit College of Law in 1964. She became a justice on the Ohio Supreme Court in 1989. Before that, she served as a judge on the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals from 1982 to 1989, and as a judge on the Toledo Municipal Court from 1975 to 1982. Before she became a judge, Resnick was an assistant prosecutor for Lucas County from 1964 to 1975.
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Deborah Cook $548,943 Ohio Republican Party Fred Lennon Deborah Cook Party Committees: $69,855 Livestock: $51,000 Candidate Self-finance: $36,000 J. Ross Haffey $292,015 Ohio Democratic Party Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Fred Weisman Party Committees: $117,629 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $33,311 Public Sector Unions: $8,200 Sara J. Harper $249,901 Ohio Republican Party Larry Rogers PAC for Manufacturing Competitiveness Party Committees: $88,547 Health Professionals: $10,000 Insurance: $3,925 Alice R. Resnick $742,422 Ohio Democratic Party Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Ohio Education Association Party Committees: $126,365 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $103,650 Public Sector Unions: $55,900

1992

In the November 3, 1992 general election, incumbent Chief Justice Thomas Moyer ran against Robert H. Gorman, an Ohio First District Court of Appeals judge, and J. Ross Haffey, an attorney practicing in Cleveland, for the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Moyer was re-elected.

Francis E. Sweeney, Sr., a judge for the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals, ran against Mark Philip Painter, a judge on the Hamilton County Municipal Court, for the term commencing on January 1, 1993. Sweeney won the seat.

Paul Pfeifer, a senator for the Ohio State Senate, ran against John T. Patton, a judge on the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals, for the term commencing on January 2, 1993. Pfeifer was elected to the court.

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Party Election votes Election % Thomas Moyer A Yes Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the term commencing January 1, 1993 Republican 1,775,596 46.7% Robert H. Gorman No Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Democratic 1,670,248 43.9% J. Ross Haffey No Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Independent 354,944 9.3% Francis E. Sweeney A No Term commencing on January 1, 1993 Democratic 2,008,854 52.2% Mark P. Painter No Term commencing on January 1, 1993 Republican 1,838,307 47.8% Paul Pfeifer A No Term commencing on January 2, 1993 Republican 2,015,685 53.0% John T. Patton No Term commencing on January 2, 1993 Democratic 1,785,215 47.0%
Candidates
Thomas Moyer Moyer earned his B.A. in political science from the Ohio State University and his J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1964. Moyer was first elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in November 1986 and assumed office on January 1, 1987. He has also served as a judge for the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals from 1979 to 1986 and as an executive assistant to Governor James A. Rhodes from 1975 to 1979. Prior to his judicial service, Moyer worked as an attorney in private practice, most recently with the law firm of Crabbe, Brown, Jones, Potts & Schmidt from 1972 to 1975. Robert H. Gorman Gorman received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1960. Gorman became a judge on the Ohio First District Court of Appeals in 1988. He has also served as a judge for both the Hamilton County Municipal Court from 1972 to 1976 and the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas from 1976 to 1988. Before he became a judge, Gorman worked as an attorney, first with the Legal Aid of Greater Cincinnati, and then with his own private practice. He was also previously elected to the Ohio House of Representatives for the 1964 to 1966 term. J. Ross Haffey Haffey received his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He began practicing law in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1964 with a focus in criminal, business, family, and probate law. Francis E. Sweeney Sweeney received his undergraduate degree from Xavier University, served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1958, then earned his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Sweeney became a judge on the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals in 1988. He was also previously a judge for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas from 1970 to 1988. Before his judicial career, Sweeney worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office and as an attorney in the legal department of the Allstate Insurance Company. Mark Philip Painter Painter received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1970 and his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1973. Painter became a judge on the Hamilton County Municipal Court in 1982. He has also practiced law with the firm of Thompson Hine, LLP. Paul Pfeifer Pfeifer earned his B.A. in economics, political science, and history from the Ohio State University in 1963 and his J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1966. After graduating from law school, Pfeifer served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Ohio. He was then elected to the Ohio House of Representatives and served from 1971 to 1972. He then joined the firm of Cory, Brown and Pfeifer and practiced law there until 1992. At the same time, from 1973 to 1976, Pfeifer was an assistant prosecuting attorney for Crawford County. In 1976, Pfeifer was elected to the Ohio State Senate and was re-elected in 1980, 1984, and 1988. John T. Patton Patton received his J.D. from the Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1958. Patton became a judge on the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals in 1976 and served as chief judge in 1983 and 1990. He was also previously a judge for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas from 1966 to 1976 and an assistant county prosecutor and chief trial assistant for Cuyahoga County.
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Thomas Moyer $996,531 National Media Team Thomas Moyer Fred Lennon Candidate Self-finance: $50,000 Livestock: $37,000 Party Committees: $23,806 Robert H. Gorman $694,921 Ohio Democratic Party Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Auto Workers Ohio State Party Committees: $117,534 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $105,367 Public Sector Unions: $59,300 J. Ross Haffey $121,602 J. Ross Haffey Kennedy Tape & Label Co. John Cook Candidate Self-finance: $56,761 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $120 Telecom Services & Equipment: $21 Francis E. Sweeney $642,063 Ohio Democratic Party Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Auto Workers Ohio State Party Committees: $159,022 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $71,871 Transportation Unions: $39,000 Mark P. Painter $610,697 Aronoff Committee Mark Painter Ohio Republican Party Candidate Committees: $100,450 Candidate Self-finance: $77,000 Party Committees: $34,700 Paul Pfeifer $628,046 Ohio Republican State Central & Executive Committee Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Ohio Republican Party Party Committees: $136,118 Lawyers and Lobbyists: $92,325 Telecom Services & Equipment: $16,759 John T. Patton $829,899 Ohio Democratic Party John Patton Auto Workers Ohio State Party Committees: $142,298 Candidate Self-finance: $72,986 General Trade Unions: $38,585

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Footnotes

Ohio courts

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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