Supreme Court: Chief justice and justice
Ohioans are seeing an unusual spectacle this year: two sitting justices running against each other for the right to serve as chief justice.
Democrat Eric Brown is the incumbent by virtue of the fact Gov. Ted Strickland chose him for the vacancy created by the death of longtime Chief Justice Thomas B. Moyer last spring. Brown, a former Franklin County Probate Court judge, was already running for the post since Moyer was barred by age restrictions from seeking another term. He is the first Democrat on the seven-member court in four years.
Republican Justice Maureen O'Connor, who was lieutenant governor under Gov. Bob Taft, won her first term on the court in 2002 and rolled up an impressive vote total in easily winning re-election in 2008.
Although Ohio Supreme Court candidates run in partisan primaries, their party labels don't appear on the general election ballot.
Justice
A pair of northern Ohioans are vying for the seat now held by Republican Judith Ann Lanzinger of Toledo, who is completing her first six-year term on the high court.
Democrat Mary Jane Trapp has been a state appellate judge for four years. She hails from Geauga County east of Cleveland.
So far the race has been so low-key it's hardly on the political radar even of close
election-watchers.
The endorsements of The Columbus Dispatch
Candidate biographies:
Chief justice
Eric Brown, Democrat;
Maureen O'Connor, Republican;
Justice
Judith Ann Lanzinger, Republican;
Mary Jane Trapp, Democrat.
For Chief Justice
Eric Brown, Columbus
Party: Democrat
Biographical Info:
Website: brownforohio.com
Campaign e-mail: justicebrown@brownforohio.com
Age: 56
Marital status and family: Wife, Marilyn; twodaughters
Experience: Chief justice, Ohio Supreme Court, April 2010-present; Franklin County Probate Court judge, 2008-10; Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge, 2005-2007; assistant state attorney general, 1992-2003; school-board member, Mayfield Heights, 1977-1992
Education: Bachelor's degree in history from Cleveland State University, law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Religion: Jewish
Maureen O'Connor, Cleveland Heights
Party: Republican
Biographical Info:
Website: www.oconnorforchiefjustice.com
Campaign e-mail: amy@oconnorforchiefjustice.com
Age: 58
Marital status and family: Divorced; two children
Experience: Justice, Ohio Supreme Court, 2003-present; lieutenant governor 1999-2003, Summit County prosecutor 1995-99, Summit County Common Pleas Court judge 1993-95
Education: Bachelor of Arts from Seton Hill College, law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Religion: Catholic
For justice
Judith Ann Lanzinger, Toledo
Party: Republican
Biographical Info:
Website: jjudy.com
Campaign e-mail: info@jjudy.com
Age: 64
Marital status and family: husband, Bob; two children
Experience: Justice, Ohio Supreme Court, 2005-present; judge, Lucas County Common Pleas Court, 1988-2003; judge, Toledo Municipal Court, 1985-88; private lawyer, 1981-85; lawyer at Toledo Edison Co., 1978-81.
Education: Bachelor of education from the University of Toledo, law degree from the University of Toledo, master of judicial studies from National Judicial College and University of Nevada-Reno
Religion: Catholic
Mary Jane Trapp, Russell Township (Geauga County)
Party: Democrat
Biographical Info:
Website: maryjanetrapp.com
Age: 54
Marital status and family: husband, Mike Apicella; four adult stepchildren
Experience: Judge, 11th District Court of Appeals, 2007-present; lawyer in private practice, 1981-2007
Education: Bachelor's degree in political science from Mount Holyoke College, law degree from Case Western Reserve University
Religion: Catholic
DispatchPolitics
- For additional coverage of state and local government, visit DispatchPolitics.com
The Daily Briefing
Today's political news
- Komen reverses move to cut Planned Parenthood funding
- Kasich, GOP battle for control of Republican Party
- GOP presidential hopefuls turning to Ohio primary
- County boards share services, budgets
- Flawed computer-network contract will cost county additional $1.4 million
- State seeks to close group homes
- Trump endorses Romney’s candidacy
- Job corps would hire military veterans
- House GOP threatens Holder with contempt
- U.S. no-fly list grows to more than 21,000 names
- Medicare savings for drugs top $2.1 billion
- Report: Panetta expects Israel to hit Iran by spring
