Ohio Supreme Court
Ohio Supreme Court |
---|
Court Information |
Justices: 7 |
Founded: 1803 |
Location: Columbus, Ohio |
Salary |
Associates: $187,805[1] |
Judicial Selection |
Method: Partisan election |
Term: 6 years |
Active justices |
Jennifer L. Brunner, Pat DeWine, Joseph Deters, Pat Fischer, Dan Hawkins, Sharon L. Kennedy, Megan E. Shanahan |
Founded in 1803, the Ohio Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Sharon Kennedy. In 2018, the court decided 2,188 cases.[2]
As of January 2025, there were six Republican and one Democratic judges on the court.
The Ohio Supreme Court meets in the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in Columbus. The court hears oral arguments on a biweekly basis from September to June.[3]
In Ohio, state supreme court justices are elected in partisan elections. There are eight states that use this selection method. To read more about the partisan election of judges, click here.
Jurisdiction
The Ohio Supreme Court is the court of last resort in the state. It has appellate jurisdiction in cases regarding the state or national constitution, cases of great public or general interest, cases originating in the courts of appeals, relating to conflicting opinions in the appellate courts, and involving the death penalty. It may also review certain administrative agencies, including the Ohio Public Utilities Commission and the Board of Tax Appeals.[4]
The court has original jurisdiction for certain special remedies, including habeas corpus, mandamus, procedendo, prohibition (writ), and quo warranto. The court may also accept an appeal involving a contested election.[5] The state constitution grants the supreme court jurisdiction to regulate admission into the practice of law and to discipline attorneys. It gives the court authority to prescribe rules and procedures for all the courts of the state. Procedural rules are effective unless both houses of the state legislature pass a concurrent resolution of disapproval.[6]
The chief justice, or a designee, is responsible for ruling regarding a disqualification of an appellate or common pleas court judge.[7]
The following text from Article IV, Section 2 of the Ohio Constitution covers the organization and jurisdiction of the court:
“ |
Organization and Jurisdiction of Supreme Court (A) The Supreme Court shall, until otherwise provided by law, consist of seven judges, who shall be known as the chief justice and justices. In case of the absence or disability of the chief justice, the judge having the period of longest total service upon the court shall be the acting chief justice. If any member of the court shall be unable, by reason of illness, disability or disqualification, to hear, consider and decide a cause or causes, the chief justice or the acting chief justice may direct any judge of any court of appeals to sit with the judges of the Supreme Court in the place and stead of the absent judge. A majority of the Supreme Court shall be necessary to constitute a quorum or to render a judgment. (B)(1) The Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction in the following: (a) Quo warranto; (b) Mandamus; (c) Habeas corpus; (d) Prohibition; (e) Procedendo; (f) In any cause on review as may be necessary to its complete determination; (g) Admission to the practice of law, the discipline of persons so admitted, and all other matters relating to the practice of law. (2) The Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction as follows: (a) In appeals from the courts of appeals as a matter of right in the following: (i) Cases originating in the courts of appeals; (ii) Cases in which the death penalty has been affirmed; (iii) Cases involving questions arising under the constitution of the United States or of this state. (b) In appeals from the courts of appeals in cases of felony on leave first obtained. (c) In direct appeals fron the courts of common pleas or other courts of record inferior to the court of appeals as a matter of right in cases in which the death penalty has been imposed. (d) Such revisory jurisdiction of the proceedings of administrative officers or agencies as may be conferred by law; (e) In cases of public or great general interest, the Supreme Court may direct any court of appeals to certify its record to the Supreme Court, and may review and affirm, modify, or reverse the judgment of the court of appeals; (f) The Supreme Court shall review and affirm, modify, or reverse the judgment in any case certified by any court of appeals pursuant to section 3(B)(4) of this article. (3) No law shall be passed or rule made whereby any person shall be prevented from invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. (C) The decisions in all cases in the Supreme Court shall be reported together with the reasons therefore.[8] |
” |
—Ohio Constitution, Article IV, Section 2 |
Justices
The table below lists the current justices of the Ohio Supreme Court, their political party, and when they assumed office.
Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
---|---|---|---|
Ohio Supreme Court | Jennifer L. Brunner | Democratic | January 2, 2021 |
Ohio Supreme Court | Pat DeWine | Republican | January 2, 2017 |
Ohio Supreme Court | Joseph Deters | Republican | January 2, 2025 |
Ohio Supreme Court | Pat Fischer | Republican | January 1, 2017 |
Ohio Supreme Court | Dan Hawkins | Republican | December 10, 2024 |
Ohio Supreme Court | Megan E. Shanahan | Republican | January 1, 2025 |
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice | Sharon L. Kennedy | Republican | January 1, 2023 |
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Ohio
The seven justices of the Ohio Supreme Court are selected through partisan primaries and partisan general elections. Previously, these judges were selected through partisan primaries and nonpartisan general elections, known as the Michigan method.[9][10][11]
All judges serve six-year terms, after which they are required to run for re-election if they wish to remain on the court.[11]
Qualifications
To serve on the Ohio Supreme Court, a judge must:
- have at least six years in the practice of law;
- be licensed to practice law in the state for at least one year preceding appointment or commencement of the judge's term;
- a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the U.S.; and
- be under the age of 70.[12]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court is chosen by voters at large, serving a full six-year term in that capacity.[11]
Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement. The appointee serves until the next general election taking place 40 or more days after the vacancy occurred. If re-elected, the judge serves the remainder of his or her predecessor's unexpired term.[11]
In 2007, Governor Ted Strickland (D) issued an executive order creating a judicial appointment recommendation panel to assist in making new appointments. The panel evaluates applicants and advises the governor, but the governor is not bound to the panel's recommendations.[11] A similar system was established in 1972 under Governor Jack Gilligan (D), but it was abolished by Governor James A. Rhodes (R) three years later.[13]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Stewart's seat: term commencing January 2, 2025
General election
General election for Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent Joseph Deters defeated incumbent Melody Stewart in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Joseph Deters (R) | 55.2 | 2,942,136 | |
Melody Stewart (D) | 44.8 | 2,389,408 |
Total votes: 5,331,544 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent Melody Stewart advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Melody Stewart | 100.0 | 459,539 |
Total votes: 459,539 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent Joseph Deters advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Joseph Deters | 100.0 | 835,968 |
Total votes: 835,968 | ||||
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Deters' seat: unexpired term ending December 31, 2026
General election
Special general election for Ohio Supreme Court
Dan Hawkins defeated Lisa Forbes in the special general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Dan Hawkins (R) | 55.1 | 2,943,297 | |
Lisa Forbes (D) | 44.9 | 2,401,109 |
Total votes: 5,344,406 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Lisa Forbes defeated Terri Jamison in the special Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Lisa Forbes | 63.8 | 310,635 | |
Terri Jamison | 36.2 | 175,965 |
Total votes: 486,600 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Dan Hawkins advanced from the special Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Dan Hawkins | 100.0 | 810,411 |
Total votes: 810,411 | ||||
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2022
- See also: Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2022
Candidates and results
Chief Judge
General election
General election for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice
Incumbent Sharon L. Kennedy defeated incumbent Jennifer L. Brunner in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Sharon L. Kennedy (R) | 56.1 | 2,307,415 | |
Jennifer L. Brunner (D) | 43.9 | 1,807,133 |
Total votes: 4,114,548 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice
Incumbent Jennifer L. Brunner advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Jennifer L. Brunner | 100.0 | 445,711 |
Total votes: 445,711 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice
Incumbent Sharon L. Kennedy advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Sharon L. Kennedy | 100.0 | 814,717 |
Total votes: 814,717 | ||||
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Fischer's seat
General election
General election for Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent Pat Fischer defeated Terri Jamison in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Pat Fischer (R) | 56.9 | 2,330,575 | |
Terri Jamison (D) | 43.1 | 1,764,845 |
Total votes: 4,095,420 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Terri Jamison advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Terri Jamison | 100.0 | 418,525 |
Total votes: 418,525 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent Pat Fischer advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Pat Fischer | 100.0 | 788,538 |
Total votes: 788,538 | ||||
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DeWine's seat
General election
General election for Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent Pat DeWine defeated Marilyn Zayas in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Pat DeWine (R) | 56.3 | 2,306,428 | |
Marilyn Zayas (D) | 43.7 | 1,789,384 |
Total votes: 4,095,812 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Marilyn Zayas advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Marilyn Zayas | 100.0 | 406,732 |
Total votes: 406,732 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent Pat DeWine advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Pat DeWine | 100.0 | 719,162 |
Total votes: 719,162 | ||||
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Justices not on the ballot
- Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor (R)
2020
- See also: Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2020
Candidates and election results
French's seat
General election
General election for Ohio Supreme Court
Jennifer L. Brunner defeated incumbent Judith French in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Jennifer L. Brunner (Nonpartisan) | 55.3 | 2,695,072 | |
Judith French (Nonpartisan) | 44.7 | 2,174,820 |
Total votes: 4,869,892 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Jennifer L. Brunner advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on April 28, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Jennifer L. Brunner | 100.0 | 675,231 |
Total votes: 675,231 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent Judith French advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on April 28, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Judith French | 100.0 | 618,739 |
Total votes: 618,739 | ||||
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Kennedy's seat
General election
General election for Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent Sharon L. Kennedy defeated John P. O'Donnell in the general election for Ohio Supreme Court on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Sharon L. Kennedy (Nonpartisan) | 55.1 | 2,735,041 | |
John P. O'Donnell (Nonpartisan) | 44.9 | 2,231,724 |
Total votes: 4,966,765 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court
John P. O'Donnell advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Supreme Court on April 28, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | John P. O'Donnell | 100.0 | 659,196 |
Total votes: 659,196 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court
Incumbent Sharon L. Kennedy advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Supreme Court on April 28, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Sharon L. Kennedy | 100.0 | 637,255 |
Total votes: 637,255 | ||||
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2018
- See also: Ohio Supreme Court elections, 2018
Candidates and results
O'Donnell vacancy
General election