A rundown of the Ohio Supreme Court candidates
Three Ohio Supreme Court seats are on the general election for 2016, and seven are running for the Tuesday primary election. Current justices Judith Ann Lanzinger and Paul Pfeifer have reached the retirement age, while Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor is incumbent and running unopposed.
Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor’s Chair
Candidate: Maureen O’Connor
Incumbent
Party Affiliation: Republican
Experience:
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice 2011-2016
Ohio Supreme Court Justice 2002-2010
Ohio Lieutenant Governor 1998-2002
Summit County Prosecuting Attorney 1995-1997
Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge 1993-1995
Summit County Probate Court Magistrate 1985-1993
Private Practice Attorney 1980-1984
Education:
J.D. Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Bachelor’s Degree Seton Hill University
Notable moment: In O’Connor’s election to Chief Justice in 2010, she defeated Chief Justice Eric Brown with 67.58 percent of the vote.
Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger’s Chair
Candidate: Pat Fischer
Party Affiliation: Republican
Experience:
Ohio First District Court of Appeals Judge 2011-2019
Private Practice Attorney
Education:
J.D. Harvard Law School
Bachelor’s Harvard Univeristy
Notable moment: Fischer served as the President of the Cincinnati Bar Association from 2006 to 2007.
Candidate: John O’Donnell
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Experience:
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division Judge 2007-2019
Terrence J. Kenneally & Associates Attorney 2005-2006
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division Judge 2002-2005
Cincinnati Staff Counsel 1999-2002
Gallagher Sharp Attorney 1997-1999
Meyers, Hentemann & Rea Attorney 1993-1997
Education:
J.D. Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Bachelor’s Degree Miami Univeristy
Notable moment: O’Donnell faced incumbent justice Judith French in the 2014 Ohio Supreme Court General Election, losing with 44 percent of the vote.
Candidate: Colleen O’Toole
Incumbent
Party Affiliation: Republican
Experience:
Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals Judge 2005-2019
Law Offices of Collen M. O’Toole 1998
Kramer and Niermann, LPA Counsel 1995-1997
Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office Attorney 1991-1994
Education:
J.D. Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Bachelor’s Degree John Carroll University
Notable moment: O’Toole was elected to the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals in 2005 and went up for re-election in 2010, losing in the Republican primary Eugene Lucci. O’Toole was eventually elected to the court again in 2012. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Kent State.
Justice Paul Pfeifer’s Chair
Candidate: Pat DeWine
Current Ohio Attorney General
Party Affiliation: Republican
Age: 64
Experience:
Ohio First District Court of Appeals Judge 2013-2019
Hamilton County Court of Pleas
Keating, Muething & Klekamp Attorney
Education:
J.D. University of Michigan Law School
Bachelor’s Degree Miami University
Notable moment: DeWine was elected to the Court of Appeals with more than 61 percent of the vote. He is also the son of former U.S. Senator Mike DeWine.
Candidate: Cynthia Rice
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Experience:
Eleventh District Court of Appeals Judge 2002-2021
United States Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice, Youngstown, Assistant U.S. Attorney 1999-2002
Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor 1991-1999
Private Practice Attorney 1989-1993
Education:
J.D. University of Akron School of Law
Bachelor’s Degree Purdue University
Notable moment: Rice was part of the development of Youngstown’s first “Weed and Seed” program, which sought to prevent violent crimes, drug trafficking and gangs while rebuilding services in high-crime urban areas.