ICYMI: Ohio Democratic Party Announces 2024 Supreme Court Slate
November 28, 2023
Columbus, OH – In case you missed it, the Ohio Democratic Party yesterday announced the full slate of candidates for the 2024 Supreme Court race. Justices Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly are running for re-election while Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Forbes from Cleveland will run for election to the state’s highest court.
“We couldn’t be more proud and excited to re-elect Justices Stewart and Donnelly and to elect Judge Forbes to Ohio’s Supreme Court. For far too long, Ohioans have had to endure a Court that puts politics over people and too often sides with corrupt legislators over working Ohioans. We’re fighting next year for justice, fairness and equality under the law for ALL Ohioans, not just the wealthy and well-connected, and we welcome all Ohioans to join us in that fight” said Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters.
Read more about this week’s announcement:
Cleveland.com: Lisa Forbes, a Cuyahoga County appeals court judge, is running for Ohio Supreme Court
Jeremy Pelzer
Nov. 27, 2023
- Lisa Forbes, a state appeals court judge from Shaker Heights, is Ohio Democrats’ pick to run next year for the seat currently held by Republican Ohio Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters, the state party announced Monday.
- The announcement rounds out the major parties’ choices to run for the three Ohio Supreme Court seats that are up for a vote in November 2024. Each of the races will likely garner higher-than-usual attention, given the state’s high court will almost certainly play a key role in determining the legal ramifications of Issue 1, the newly passed constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights in Ohio.
- In addition to announcing Forbes’ candidacy, the Ohio Democratic Party said in a release that Democratic Supreme Court Justices Michael Donnelly and Melody Stewart, both of Cuyahoga County, will seek reelection next year, as expected.
- Whoever controls the Ohio Supreme Court will have significant influence in determining what Ohio’s abortion laws will look like following the passage of Issue 1, as abortion-rights groups are now looking at filing lawsuits to strike down a number of GOP-passed anti-abortion laws and regulations.
- Forbes said in an interview Monday that she’s running for the Ohio Supreme Court because she appreciates that the court “is the last line of defense for individual rights and freedoms” in the state.
- “And as I see it,” she continued, “it’s never been more important to have a strong court that is focused on fully realizing all of those rights that are afforded to Ohioans under the constitution and (state) laws.”
Toledo Blade: Cleveland appellate judge to run for Ohio Supreme Court
Jim Provance
Nov. 27, 2023
- Cleveland appellate Judge Lisa Forbes on Monday joined the Democratic slate of Ohio Supreme Court candidates in 2024 as the party seeks to build on the theme of this year’s elections of fighting back against what they contend have been Republican “power grabs.”
- “That is an important job that the Supreme Court does,” Judge Forbes told The Blade. “It is to ensure that neither the executive branch or legislature oversteps their bounds and that the law is applied fairly and equally. Lastly it is important that all rights that are afforded under the (state) constitution and the federal constitution are fully realized by all citizens. That’s the job, and I’m committed to doing it.”
- She joins a slate that already includes incumbent Justices Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly, both seeking their second six-year terms on the high court bench.
- The court currently has a 4-3 Republican majority, so Democrats have a chance at flipping the bench.
- A video announcing the slate makes it clear that Democrats hope to build on the results of the Aug. 8 special election and Nov. 8 general election, both of which were presented as pushing back again Republican super-majorities in the General Assembly.
- In August, voters soundly rejected a GOP legislative proposal to make it tougher to amend the Ohio Constitution. Earlier this month, voters proceeded to pass the constitutional amendment that the August vote was at least partly designed to derail, enshrining reproductive rights, including access to abortion, in the state’s Bill of Rights.
- The video does not mention either election specifically, but it’s clear the party believes it has momentum.
Columbus Dispatch: Election 2024: Who is running for Ohio Supreme Court?
Laura Bischoff
Nov. 27, 2023
- Ohio Democrats will try to take majority control of the state Supreme Court next year in what will likely be a contentious, expensive campaign.
- The Ohio Democratic Party announced Monday that 8th District Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Forbes is running and Justices Michael Donnelly and Melody Stewart are running for reelection.
- Supreme Court decisions impact how much Ohioans pay in taxes, whether utility companies can add fees to ratepayers’ bills, how insurance and business laws are interpreted, what government records will be available to the public and more.
- With the passage of Issue 1 in November, the Ohio Supreme Court next year is expected to rule on lawsuits that challenge existing laws that restrict abortion.
Daily Kos: Ohio Democrats announce slate seeking to win back narrowly divided Supreme Court
David Nir
Nov. 27, 2023
- The Ohio Democratic Party announced on Monday that Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Forbes would run for a Republican-held seat on the state Supreme Court next year, forming a slate with Justices Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly, who are both seeking reelection. Republicans currently have a 4-3 majority on the court, which Democrats could reverse if all three of their candidates win.
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