Geauga County Bar Association Members Weigh in on Judicial Candidates (w/ Videos)
In a reversal of roles, members of the Geauga County Bar Association have issued their opinions on judicial candidates’ fitness for office.
In a reversal of roles, members of the Geauga County Bar Association have issued their opinions on judicial candidates’ fitness for office.
The Geauga County Bar Association recently conducted a poll of its members regarding candidates for the upcoming contested judicial race in the March 15, 2016, primary election.
One hundred sixty-five (165) ballots were issued to members of the bar and 83 responses were returned by the deadline, Mary S. Poland, executive secretary of the GCBA, reported. The response represented 50.3 percent of the bar association.
Respondents were asked to base their evaluation and responses to individual candidate’s fitness for the office sought, including such qualities as the candidate’s honesty, ability, temperament, industry, impartiality and professional competence.
Biographical information provided by each candidate was provided to bar association members.
“The poll results are not to be interpreted as an endorsement of any candidate by the bar, but are solely a compilation of the responses of the voting members of the Geauga County Bar Association,” Poland said.
GEAUGA COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT
Five candidates are seeking a six-year term on the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, commencing Jan. 1, 2017. They are Alison M. King, Mary Brigid Matheney, David M. Ondrey, Carolyn J. Paschke and Mark E. Porter.
Incumbent Judge David Fuhry announced last year he would not seek reelection to the bench.
Matheney received 17 “Highly Recommended” responses, 27 “Recommended,” 20 “Not Recommended” and 16 “No Opinion.”
Ondrey received 39 “Highly Recommended” responses, 29 “Recommended,” 6 “Not Recommended” and 4 “No Opinion.”
Paschke received 35 “Highly Recommended” responses, 29 “Recommended,” 13 “Not Recommended” and 5 “No Opinion.”
Porter received 7 “Highly Recommended” responses, 15 “Recommended,” 20 “Not Recommended” and 38 “No Opinion.”
The GCBA did not report any responses for King.
ELEVENTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
Two candidates — Thomas R. Wright and Ron Tamburrino — are seeking a six-year term on the 11th District Court of Appeals, commencing Feb. 9, 2017.
Tamburrino received 5 “Highly Recommended” responses and 6 “Recommended” compared to 32 “Highly Recommended” responses for Wright and 28 “Recommended.”
Tamburrino also received 25 “Not Recommended” and 41 “No Opinion” survey responses.
Five respondents said Wright was “Not Recommended” and 13 had “No Opinion.”
OHIO SUPREME COURT #1
Two candidates are seeking a six-year term on the Supreme Court of Ohio, commencing Jan. 2, 2017. They are Pat DeWine and Cynthia Westcott-Rice.
Nine respondents rated DeWine “Highly Recommended” while 43 members gave Westcott-Rice the same rating.
DeWine also received 8 “Recommended” responses, 9 “Not Recommended” and 49 “No Opinion.”
Westcott-Rice was “Recommended” by 25 respondents and “Not Recommended” by 3. Eight bar members had no opinion about her.
OHIO SUPREME COURT #2
Three candidates — Pat Fischer, John P. O’Donnell and Colleen O’Toole — are vying for a six-year seat on the state’s highest court. The winner’s term will commence Jan. 1, 2017.
Fischer received 13 “Highly Recommended” responses, 10 “Recommended” responses and 4 “Not Recommended.” Forty-nine bar association members indicated they had no opinion on Fischer’s fitness for office.
O’Donnell received 25 “Highly Recommended” responses, 34 “Recommended” and 3 “Not Recommended.” Fifteen respondents had no opinion about him.
O’Toole received 5 “Highly Recommended” responses, 7 “Recommended” responses and 56 “Not Recommended.” Thirteen respondents indicated they had no opinion on O’Toole’s fitness for office.
* * * * * * * * * *
OSBA Announces Supreme Court of Ohio Candidate Ratings for the 2016 Election
The Ohio State Bar Association’s (OSBA) Commission on Judicial Candidates completed its evaluation of candidates seeking election this year to the Supreme Court of Ohio and released on Feb. 17 the following ratings:
Candidate Rating
Judge R. Patrick DeWine Not Recommended
Judge Patrick F. Fischer Highly Recommended
Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor Highly Recommended
Judge John P. O’Donnell Recommended
Judge Colleen M. O’Toole Not Recommended
Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice Highly Recommended
According to the OSBA’s Feb. 17 news release, the 25-member panel, chaired by OSBA Past-President Jonathan Hollingsworth, evaluated each of this year’s candidates according to non-political criteria: legal knowledge and ability; professional competence; judicial temperament; integrity; diligence; personal responsibility; and public/community service.
