Sarah Thomas Kovoor

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Sarah Thomas Kovoor

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 3, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

University of Rochester, 1992

Law

University of Akron School of Law, 1997

Personal

Religion

Christian

Sarah Thomas Kovoor (Republican Party) ran in a special election for judge of the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals. She lost in the special Republican primary on May 3, 2022.

Biography

Sarah Thomas Kovoor was born in Kerala, India. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester in 1992 and a law degree from the University of Akron School of Law in 1997. Thomas Kovoor's career experience includes working as an attorney in private practice and as an assistant prosecutor in Trumbull County, Ohio. She has been affiliated with the Rotary Club, Meals on Wheels, and the Trumbull County Republican Women's Club.

Elections

2024

Thomas Kovoor ran for Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas. Click here to learn more.

2022

See also: Ohio intermediate appellate court elections, 2022

General election

Special general election for Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals

Incumbent John Eklund won election in the special general election for Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Eklund (R)	100.0	209,551

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 209,551
= 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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Republican primary election

Special Republican primary for Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals

Incumbent John Eklund defeated Sarah Thomas Kovoor in the special Republican primary for Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Eklund	54.6	38,909
		Sarah Thomas Kovoor	45.4	32,374

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 71,283
= 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.

2020

See also: Ohio intermediate appellate court elections, 2020

General election

General election for Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals

Incumbent Cynthia Rice defeated Sarah Thomas Kovoor in the general election for Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Cynthia Rice (Nonpartisan)	51.0	166,310
		Sarah Thomas Kovoor (Nonpartisan)	49.0	159,486

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 325,796
= 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 Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals

Incumbent Cynthia Rice advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Cynthia Rice	100.0	52,570

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 52,570
= 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 Eleventh District Court of Appeals

Sarah Thomas Kovoor advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals on April 28, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Thomas Kovoor	100.0	45,453

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 45,453
= 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.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Sarah Thomas Kovoor did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Sarah Thomas Kovoor completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Thomas Kovoor's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I immigrated to this county when I was 7 years old. I was given the opportunity to live the American Dream and create a life for myself and my family. Growing up in this country, I was able to see all the good that the American legal system can do and the importance of an impartial judiciary in administering justice. It was this insight that attracted me to the legal field and drove me to enroll in the University of Akron School of Law.

My professional experience as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney, both court-appointed and retained and my life experience as an immigrant and a mother who raised her family in Northeast Ohio makes me uniquely qualified to serve the people of the 11th district as an appellate judge.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I will ensure that the application of justice is done in keeping with the word of the law and how it applies to the case at hand rather than looking for legislative intentions.
• I will diligently review cases before me, bringing my experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney to ensure that the defendant's right to appeal is given the full weight it deserves.
• As Judge, I will make efficient use of the court's resources as an instrument for education to ensure that future judges can see the positive impact a judge can have both within and outside a courtroom.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am interested in the role that judges can play outside the court as a positive influence for the community through involvement and service.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Both were lawyers who fought against governmental oppression, immoral laws and discrimination in their countries. They were so passionate about their beliefs that they gave up their personal freedom and were imprisoned as a consequence to their opposition to injustice.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The film Twelve Angry Men, which holds at its core a deeply patriotic faith in the criminal justice system.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I am especially proud to be a naturalized citizen and person of color. My wish would be that others would see my example and realize they can also achieve their goals without limitations. There is a path for anyone to succeed in America and the only limit is ambition. I hope to leave a legacy which would inspire the next generation of lawyers to strive to serve and make a difference in their communities.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

I am drawn to Crime and Punishment because it is a study of the complexity of the human mind. The book demonstrates that we cannot simply categorize people as "good" or "evil". It challenges your way of thinking and helps you realize that there can be good and bad in everyone and that the course of an otherwise good person's life can be changed by one bad decision.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Atticus Finch from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus was an attorney whose clients were victims of prejudice and injustice. His character served the bar with integrity, professionalism and courage and has inspired countless people to become lawyers. Few real-life lawyers have done more for the public perception of the members of the legal profession than Atticus Finch.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Amazing Grace.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

I believe every judge has the responsibility to participate in civic instruction and become more involved in community outreach to help the community understand the ways in which the judicial system and it's judges serve the community.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

I am a textualist.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

I had the honor and privilege to call the late Hon. Thomas D. Lambros, former Chief Judge of the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, a mentor, colleague and friend. Judge Lambros was a titan of the legal community and beloved by all who knew him. He was passionate about his beliefs in the liberty, justice and the equality of all people. He treated everyone with kindness, dignity and respect, regardless of their social or economic status and he was truly inspirational to me.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

It is crucial for a judge to have empathy. A good judge will have an understanding of the diverse members of the communities within the court's jurisdiction if they want to be fairer in the courtroom. Society may benefit as well if more judges-who are predominantly white, male, and from affluent backgrounds-could widen their circle of empathy to include people from all walks of American life. I believe a judge needs to have an understanding of the different actors in a court case in order to step into their shoes and to try to understand their actions. Only by doing that will we have better, fairer outcomes for all.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

No.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I'm running for judge of the Eleventh District Court of Appeals because I have reached a level in my career where I can apply my diverse experience as a prosecutor, a defense attorney and civil rights advocate to serve the people of Northeast Ohio. I have the actual working experience that is necessary to effectively understand the cases that I would be called upon to review and render opinions.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

No, it is critical that judges be non-partisan in all dealings before the court and with government officials.

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

I am concerned about the encroachment of politics into the judiciary. It is critical that the courts remain an impartial arbiter of the law, not an instrument of partisanship. The court's role is to rule on the letter of the law, not attempt to parse legislative intent or seek societal change from the bench.

What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?

In the current political climate, it is especially important to ensure that judges are not only perceived to be, but are also proven to be apolitical, neutral and impartial regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?

No, my long term intention is to continue to serve the people of Northeast Ohio and the Eleventh District.

Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?

No. The Bar Association ratings favor incumbents and those with backgrounds which are entwined with the legal establishment. The ratings seem to have little to do with the candidate's qualities and qualifications.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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