Cleveland.com Editorial Board Endorses Judge Lisa Forbes in Democratic Supreme Court Primary
February 21, 2024
Columbus, OH – Today, the Cleveland.com editorial board endorsed Judge Lisa Forbes for the Democratic Supreme Court primary election, noting: “It is hard to imagine a more qualified background than the one Forbes presents to voters.” The Ohio Democratic Party endorsed Judge Forbes after an impartial screening committee recommended Forbes for the party’s endorsement last month. Early voting begins today for the March 19 primary election.
“In this head-to-head race, we believe it is Forbes whose background and wide-ranging experience would make her the best justice and the best choice for Democratic voters to challenge for that position in November,” writes the Cleveland.com editorial board.
“For too long, the Ohio Supreme Court has put politics over people. This November, we’re restoring fairness, equality and justice back to the state’s highest court by electing Judge Forbes and re-electing Justices Stewart and Donnelly. Nothing short of our fundamental rights are on the ballot,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party.
Ohio is the only state in the nation with the opportunity to flip its Supreme Court this year, as the Court is set to take up key issues in the months and years ahead, including abortion rights, gerrymandering and voting rights.
Read more from the Cleveland.com editorial board HERE and below:
- In this head-to-head race, we believe it is Forbes whose background and wide-ranging experience would make her the best justice and the best choice for Democratic voters to challenge for that position in November.
- It is hard to imagine a more qualified background than the one Forbes presents to voters. She has a stellar academic record after winning scholarships to Cornell University and then Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she graduated summa cum laude and was notes editor of the law review.
- That launched a 27-year career as an attorney in which Forbes was steeped in both trial and appellate law. She has practiced at all levels throughout Ohio, including the Ohio Supreme Court, with particular expertise in estate and probate work. She was a litigator and partner in the law firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease until 2020, when she won election to the court of appeals. In that 2020 race, the local “Judge4Yourself” judicial ratings coalition gave Forbes four “Excellent” ratings and one “Good.” The coalition did not issue ratings in this primary, but Forbes has been endorsed by the Ohio Democratic Party.
- Forbes’ community involvement is also impressive. Besides volunteering her time in a host of civic organizations, she is board chair of The Centers, an affiliation of the Centers for Family and Children, Circle Health and the Cleveland Christian Home which provides vital services to vulnerable residents of Cuyahoga County.
- Forbes says she sees the Supreme Court as needing to be “an effective firewall” to protect democracy and the rule of law. But she added she worries about the erosion of public respect for the judiciary.
- “When questions arise about the political motivations behind judicial decisions, it weakens respect for all judges and courts in general,” she said.
- Democratic voters should nominate Lisa Forbes for the unexpired Dec. 31, 2026, term on the Ohio Supreme Court. Early voting begins today.
###