10 questions for Ohio Supreme Court Candidates that they should be able to answer

Ohio's legal system (especially the policing of the legal system) is in desperate need of an overhaul so it can regain public confidence.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan has announced she is running for the Ohio State Supreme Court. She seems to be a very good judge that makes good decisions. However, the Supreme Court of Ohio has more duties than just hearing cases. It is a separate branch of government and needs quality administrators.

Ohioans are losing confidence in Ohio’s legal system in record numbers. More than ever before - Legal professionals are not taking their moral and ethical obligations seriously. Additionally the bar system of lawyers investigating lawyers is fraught with inconsistencies, a tremendous lack of transparency, and poor outcomes. Seven out of ten Ohioans believe that lawyers coverup for lawyers when they do unethical and immoral things.

As an example here are some headlines of the gross behavior of some of Ohio’s judges.

1. Judge John P. O'Donnell of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, who was removed from a murder case by the Ohio Supreme Court for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the victim's family and expressing doubt about the defendant's guilt in front of the jury. The Supreme Court's decision stated that O'Donnell's comments created "an impression that the court had a bias or prejudice in favor of the defendant." (Source: Cleveland.com, June 2021)

2. Former Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter, who was convicted of felony charges of tampering with evidence, forgery, and having an unlawful interest in a public contract. (Source: Cincinnati.com, July 2019)

3. Former Cuyahoga County judge Lance Mason, who was convicted of brutally attacking his wife and sentenced to prison. (Source: Cleveland.com, September 2018)

4. Former Scioto County Common Pleas Judge William T. Marshall, who was sentenced to prison for theft in office and tampering with evidence. (Source: Cincinnati.com, September 2018)

5. Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, who resigned after being accused of sexually harassing female employees in his office. (Source: Cleveland.com, May 2018)

6. Former Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Angela Stokes, who was indicted on charges of tampering with evidence and falsification. (Source: Cleveland.com, May 2018)

7. Former Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Steven Terry, who was sentenced to prison for bribery and other charges. (Source: Cleveland.com, January 2017)

8. Former Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Mary Wiseman, who was suspended from the bench after being accused of making racist comments and retaliating against a court employee who complained about her behavior. (Source: Dayton Daily News, September 2016)

9. Former Cuyahoga County Judge Bridget McCafferty, who was sentenced to prison for lying to the FBI during a corruption investigation. (Source: Cleveland.com, June 2016)

10. Judge John O'Donnell of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, who was criticized for his handling of the high-profile trial of Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo, who was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting deaths of two unarmed black motorists. O'Donnell acquitted Brelo, which sparked protests and accusations of bias. (Source: Cleveland.com, May 2015)

Here are 10 questions for a candidate for the Ohio Supreme Court

1. What is your position on the profit motive of attorneys and how it may impact the fairness of the Ohio legal system, particularly in cases involving family law and divorce?

2. Do you believe the Ohio legal system should prioritize the well-being of families and children over the financial interests of attorneys and the court system? If so, how would you propose to achieve this balance?

3. What are your thoughts on the lack of substantive mental health training for judges and magistrates in Ohio's domestic relations courts? How do you believe this impacts the outcomes of cases involving families?

4. How do you plan to address the issue of high-conflict divorces that benefit lawyers and the court system while causing stress and harm to families and children?

5. Do you believe the Ohio legal system should consider cases of unsafe atmosphere and harm resulting in death, such as murder or suicide, as potential instances of child abuse and mental abuse? If so, how do you propose to address this issue?

6. What is your position on the visiting judge program in Ohio, and how do you believe it affects the fairness and consistency of legal decisions in the state?

7. Do you believe that the special prosecutor program in Ohio adequately prevents unethical prosecutors from shopping a case around to find a prosecutor that shares their bias? If not, how would you propose to improve this program?

8. How do you plan to ensure that judges, prosecutors, and lawyers in Ohio are held accountable for unethical and immoral decisions that harm families and individuals?

9. What are your thoughts on the establishment of an Inspector General commission to review and audit legal professionals' decisions for ethical and moral considerations?

10. Finally, how do you believe your experience and background make you uniquely qualified to address the issues facing Ohio families in the legal system and to lead efforts to improve the system's fairness and morality?

As Ohioans, we need to expect better conduct from our legal professionals and judges.