Cleveland.com Editorial: Joe Deters was a ‘Mistaken Choice’ for Ohio Supreme Court
March 8, 2023
Columbus, OH – Today, the Cleveland.com editorial board pulled no punches, saying Joe Deters was a ‘mistaken choice’ for the Ohio Supreme Court. The editorial board pointed out that Deters has ‘zero judicial experience,’ that Deters enjoys a close, personal relationship with the Republican who appointed him and that there are ‘many conflicts and questions about Deters’ qualifications and past service.’
“In light of the many conflicts and questions about Deters’ qualifications and past service, the answer is clear: DeWine should not have named Joe Deters to the Ohio Supreme Court,” writes the Cleveland.com editorial board.
“The political gamesmanship surrounding Joe Deters appointment to the Ohio Supreme Court is disgusting. Voters deserve answers from Deters, and better yet, deserve a Justice that is focused on fairness and the rule of law, not political backscratching,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Matt Keyes.
The Cleveland.com editorial follows a story from Cincinnati.com last week that highlighted his lack of experience and the politics behind the decision. One constitutional law expert in the story even remarked: “Of course, there’s politics going on here.”
Read more from Cleveland.com HERE and below:
- In late December, DeWine named someone to the job with zero judicial experience — longtime Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters.
- Equally troubling are the apparent “you-scratch-my-back, I’ll-scratch-yours” ties between Deters and Pat DeWine.
- The Cincinnati Enquirer recently highlighted two key ones: In 2017, Justice DeWine asked Deters to give the justice’s son a paid six-week internship. Deters did. And in 2018, Justice DeWine asked Deters to give his senior staff attorney, Mary Stier, a job as an assistant prosecuting attorney handling appellate work. Deters did so in 2019, shortly before Justice DeWine’s wife filed for divorce, alleging adultery. Stier and Justice DeWine are now in an acknowledged relationship, the Enquirer reports.
- The 2004 scandals that caused Deters to step down from the state treasurer’s office also raise red flags. The scandals, which also featured pay-to-play influence-peddling allegations, also involved Matt Borges, now on trial in Cincinnati on House Bill 6 influence-peddling and corruption charges.
- So why did Gov. DeWine name Joe Deters to the Ohio Supreme Court? Maybe the question should be: Should DeWine have done so?
- In light of the many conflicts and questions about Deters’ qualifications and past service, the answer is clear: DeWine should not have named Joe Deters to the Ohio Supreme Court.
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