Party: Dem
Occupation: Judge, 8th Court of Appeals
Position you are seeking: Ohio Supreme Court Justice
Work Experience: – Judge (2020-Present), 8th District Court of Appeals
– Partner (2003-2020), Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP
– Associate (1997-2002), Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP
– Associate (1993-1997), Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP
– Judicial Law Clerk (1992-1993), Chambers of the Honorable Frank J. Battisti (United States District Court, Nothern District Court of Ohio)
– Legislative Aide (1989), Office of the Honorable Nita Lowey (United States House of Representatives)
– Director of Field Operations (1988), Jim Donchess for Congress
– Field Organizer (1987-1988), Bruce Babbit for President
– Legislative Correspondent/Legislative Aide (1985-1987), Office of the Honderable Joe Kolter (United States House of Representatives)
Education: – J.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Law (1989-1992), Summa Cum Laude
– B.S., Cornell University (1981-1985)
Campaign email: info@ForbesForJustice.com
Website: www.ForbesForJustice.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ForbesForJustice
Age: 61
What in your background qualifies you to serve in this position?
I have experience and expertise in the law. I was a courtroom lawyer for 27 years before becoming a judge. I handled complex and complicated matters in trial courts and courts of appeals all over the state. I was a partner in a national law firm for 17 years. I also have demonstrated my commitment to my community. I have served as a volunteer board member for 15+ years on the board of a social services agency providing physical and mental healthcare, HeadStart, and workforce development services to some 15,000 Cuyahoga County residents every year.
Why are you running for this position?
As a current judge on the 8th District Court of Appeals, I am running for the Ohio Supreme Court because I want to do my part to ensure that the high court is fair, balanced and independent, so that it serves as a firewall protecting our democracy and the rule of law. The judiciary, and the Ohio Supreme Court in particular, is an equal branch of the government, equal to the executive and the legislative branches, not a rubber stamp for either. If elected, I will dedicate myself to making that vision a reality.
What is your platform?
If elected, I will be an independent and fair jurist who works diligently to protect the rights of all Ohioans. I take that responsibility seriously and want voters to know how important the Supreme Court race is this November. I will stand by my principles and stick to my guns if I disagree with my colleagues. For example, in a labor dispute over whether an employee should have his case go to arbitration or the State Employee Relations Board, I dissented with my colleagues and said it should go to arbitration. I am willing to do my homework and hard work, and I’m also undeterred. I am beholden to the law, and I will follow it wherever it takes me.
What are the most pressing issues facing Clermont County that come before someone who is elected to the position you seek?
One of the top issues facing Clermont County and the Ohio judicial system as a whole is the erosion of public respect for our courts and the justice system in general. If people do not trust and have confidence in the courts to dispense justice and to apply the law fairly, we risk a breakdown of an orderly, democratic society. In recent years, there has been an increase in questioning the political motivations behind judicial decisions. This degrades respect for all judges and courts in general, not just the specific judges who are the subject of criticism. In Ohio, for example, we now have party affiliation on the ballot for judges on the courts of appeals and the Supreme Court. I am concerned that partisanship – real or perceived – is coming to be accepted as the explanation for the outcomes of cases – not justice or the fair application of the law.
As a justice on the Ohio Supreme Court, I will faithfully apply the law to protect the rights of all Ohioans. I will not engage in result-oriented decision-making. Where the law is clear, I will apply it. Where the law is ambiguous, I will use standard tools of interpretation – considering recognized definitions found in statutes, case law, and dictionaries, for example. I will not redefine words to serve my own purposes or to achieve a particular outcome. Recently, the Ohio Supreme Court declared that “boneless” is a cooking style and that Ohioans should expect bones in foods described as “boneless.” That type of re-defining of words – legislating from the bench – leads to uncertainty and erodes respect for the court. The high court can and should lead by example by acting with integrity, issuing opinions that explain the rationale behind any decision, and clearly articulating the points of law and facts that drive each decision. Consistency and clarity are critical, and I will be committed to both.
If elected, what would you seek to enhance and improve Clermont County?
If elected to the statewide position of Ohio Supreme Court Justice, I will be an independent jurist and work every day to ensure that our state’s highest court is a firewall that protects our democracy, the rule of law, and all Ohioans.