COLUMBUS — Three former justices of the Ohio Supreme Court and a coalition of legal figures held a news conference last week to spotlight what they described as growing politicization of the judicial branch and to press for measures that would protect judicial independence.
Concerns over partisan labels and endorsements
The event, organized as part of a multi-state tour by the group Justice in Motion, drew former justices Yvette McGee Brown, Michael P. Donnelly and former Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor to the steps near the Joseph P. Kinneary federal courthouse in downtown Columbus. They were joined by former North Carolina Justice Robert Orr and former Ohio attorneys general Nancy Rogers and Richard Cordray, along with judges from around the state.
Speakers criticized state law requiring partisan labels on Ohio Supreme Court ballots, criticized a recent Ohio Supreme Court decision permitting judges to endorse political candidates, and warned against broader nationwide efforts to align judges with political movements.
“When average citizens start to talk about judges and justices by putting them in a political tribe, it undermines who we are,”
McGee Brown said the association of judges with partisan tribes damages public confidence in courts’ ability to adjudicate fairly. Donnelly warned that the consequences extend beyond the bench to long-standing civic norms.
Why this matters for Ohio
Speakers framed their concerns as fundamental to the separation of powers and the rule of law. They argued that when judges are viewed through a partisan lens, the public may question whether rulings reflect legal principles or political agendas. That perception, they warned, risks diminishing respect for court decisions and the legal system overall.
The coalition presented their appearance as part of a broader push to preserve an independent judiciary and to resist efforts that could transform judicial offices into overtly political roles.
Who was at the event
- Former Ohio Supreme Court justices: Yvette McGee Brown, Michael P. Donnelly, Maureen O'Connor
- Former North Carolina Supreme Court justice: Robert Orr
- Former Ohio attorneys general: Nancy Rogers, Richard Cordray
The gathering combined former jurists and statewide legal leaders to amplify concerns and to reach voters and policymakers ahead of future judicial contests and legal debates in Ohio.
| Person | Role at event |
|---|---|
| Yvette McGee Brown | Former Ohio Supreme Court justice; speaker |
| Michael P. Donnelly | Former Ohio Supreme Court justice; speaker |
| Maureen O'Connor | Former Chief Justice; speaker |
Organizers and participants emphasized that their message was nonpartisan in intent: preserving the judiciary’s role as an impartial arbiter, not an extension of party politics. They also urged citizens to consider how changes in judicial selection, campaign practices and public statements by judges could alter public perception.
For Ohioans, the issues raised touch on how judges are selected, how they campaign and how courts are perceived when decisions involve politically charged subjects. The former justices’ appearance on the Justice in Motion tour signals ongoing advocacy by legal leaders concerned about the trajectory of judicial norms in the state and nationally.
