Buckeye State Blog - Ohio Supreme Court

The Slapping Down of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer

mrgavel — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 20:02:17 -0700

One of the worst kept secrets in Columbus is that Justice Eve Lundberg-Stratton wants to be the first woman to be Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice. She has been planning her election as Chief for a long time. She has important allies in the business community. She has very good public relations skills as shown by her efforts to establish mental health dockets for Ohio's trial courts. In short, she seems to be on track to accomplish her goal.

Democrats and their allies in labor and the plaintiffs' bar have been looking for a candidate who could beat Stratton. One rumor going around is that the Justice Paul Pfiefer will jump parties and run as a Democrat for Chief Justice in the 2008 election. Pfiefer is liberal for a Republican, has allies in labor and the trial lawyers' bar, and has run state-wide more times than Stratton. Which brings us to this article that appeared in the Sunday, June 17th, 2007 edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This article deals with the allegedly long time that the Ohio Supreme Court takes in rendering opinions. The article points out that the time the Supreme Court takes in releasing opinions is increasing. What's interesting is that while most of the Justices are having problems releasing opinions, it is Justice Pfiefer that gets most of the attention for being a slowpoke in judicial decision writing.

This is a quote from the article about Pfeifer's slowness: Justice Paul Pfeifer was the slowest, taking an average of 291 days to produce each of his 21 opinions in 2006 - nearly two months longer than the next-slowest justice, Lanzinger The article goes on to describe how Pfeifer doesn't have three law clerks like the other Justices. He uses two clerks and an administrative assistant. This assistant helps him write a weekly column for small city newspapers and the Supreme Court's website. Justice Stratton, on the other hand, is the one Justice who is described as being relatively speedy in releasing opinions. This is a quote from the article about Stratton's promptness: Stratton, who is now among the most efficient justices at turning out opinions, said she puts a premium on speed. "I just believe that it is very important that the public gets a timely opinion," she said. Do we see a difference in the way the two Justices are being treated by this article?

The article also doesn't analyze other factors that could be leading to an increase in the amount of time Justices are taking to issue opinions. One of those is whether the direct appeal of death penalty cases from Ohio's Common Pleas Court to the Ohio Supreme Court, bypassing the Ohio's Courts of Appeals, is adding to the time being taken by the Ohio Supreme Court in issuing decisions. Nor is there any reason given for why other Ohio Supreme Court Justices are taking longer. The article gives a reason for Justice Pfeifer's tardiness, but what about the fact that Justice Lanzinger, who apparently has the usual three law clerks, is taking longer than the other five Ohio Supreme Court Justices who were there in both 2006 and 2007? What is the reason there?

We have no idea if Justice Pfeifer is going to switch parties and run for Chief Justice. What we do know, though, is that if he does, the Republicans have already set in motion the material for an attack ad to use against him. That material appears in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

cross-posted at www.mcdac.blogspot.com

Leave Ohio Constitution Alone, News Release from Judge O'Neill

BJ — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 09:27:36 -0700

From: Oneill4justice@aol.com Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 10:05 AMSubject: Judge O'Neill Says "Leave The Constitution Alone"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2006

�� Judge William�� Michael O'Neill became the first Judge in the history of Ohio to take a position on the wisdom of "meddling with the Ohio Constitution."�� Speaking to a rally of labor supporters in Dayton, O'Neill denounced State Issues 3 and 4 and urged voters to "rise up in defense of the Constitution."

�� Judge O'Neill is the Democratic nominee for Supreme Court of Ohio.�� "I have no position on gambling or smoking," the outspoken Judge explained, "but as a Judge I have very strong feelings about this incessant meddling with the Ohio Constitution.�� This document has provided the foundation of our government for over 200 years, and I for one am tired of special interests carving out exceptions and privileges for themselves by way of constituutional amendments."

�� The Judge has been a vocal critic of the Ohio Supreme Court for failing to enforce its own orders with regards to the school funding issue.�� "Our courts are not even enforcing the amendments already on the books" Judge O'Neill explained "and now people want to weaken the Constitution by adding their own personal agendas.�� Leave the Constitution alone!" the Judge concluded.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Judge Oneill Cell
440-897-1286

Ethical Justice O'Donnell

J-Dog — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 07:49:06 -0700

Ohio lawyers are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years, including a certain amount devoted to professionalism, ethics and substance abuse.�� Today, the Ohio State Bar Association has offered a course called "The New Ohio Rules of Ethics", and the first seminar presenter is none other than Justice Terrence O'Donnell on "The New Model Rules and Why They Are Important to You".��

There is no indication whether he will address why he'd carry large wads of cash, and then not offer a decent explanation for carrying large sums after reporting the money stolen from his vehicle in the Flats.

I'll be signing up for the course today!��

Supreme Court Campaign News?

J-Dog — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 09:53:37 -0700

Does anybody have any news from the Supreme Court

campaign? There hasn't been much news about

Judge O'Neill and Ben Espy lately...

$5,000 Won't Infuence Anyone according to O'Donnell

Bettyjane — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 08:35:16 -0700

I found this in the Ohio Blogs section and really think it should also appear here.
For, if all eyes are on Ohio as the bellweather in this election cycle, then all eyes should also be on O'Neill, who is running against everything that the is wrong with the pay for play and play for pay administrations in DC and Ohio.

Judge Oneill On How Little $5,000 Can Buy These Days�� New�� Submitted by Judge Oneill on Thu, 06/22/2006 - 6:48pm.�� Now here is a great comment for the National Media. Justice Terrence ODonnell, explaining why he is raising MILLIONS to get re-elected against his opponent who is taking NO MONEY FROM NOBODY: Quoted in US News & World Report I don't believe anyone is going to be influenced for as little as $5,000 in Ohio today Now that is one sad commentary on the state of the judiciary. Couldn't have said it better myself.�� Judge Oneill