News Releases
For Immediate Release
May 16, 2002
Moyer presents plan for judicial campaign reform
Chief Justice Thomas Moyer today presented an eight-point proposal calling
for major reforms in the laws and practices governing the selection of judges.
Moyer outlined his plan in a speech to the Ohio State Bar Association that is
holding its annual meeting in Columbus.
“The most important value of courts in a country that lives by the rule of
law—trust and confidence—is being diminished by the raising and spending of
money. Until we change the constitutional process by which justices are
selected, we should change the practical realities of judicial campaigns,” Moyer
said.
Moyer renewed his call to legislative leaders and Gov. Bob Taft to establish
a broad-based, bipartisan commission to review the process of selecting Supreme
Court justices and appellate court judges and to examine the qualifications for
judicial office.
In outlining his proposals, Moyer said:
- Ohio should change the length of term of office for all judges to at least
eight years. The current terms are now six years. “Longer terms would achieve
the appropriate balance between independence and accountability, reduce the
frequency of fund raising and increase the number of qualified potential
candidates.”
- Candidates for judicial office should have a minimum of 10 years of legal
practice for trial court judges and more than 10 years for appellate and
Supreme Court seats. Candidates now must have a minimum of six years
experience.
- Ohio should also adopt the American Bar Association’s Standards on
Judicial Qualifications requiring judicial candidates to submit their
qualifications to a broad-based committee to assess the candidate’s legal
knowledge, experience and character.
- The General Assembly should adopt legislation requiring individuals and
organizations which contribute significant amounts of money to unauthorized
campaigns to publicly report the contributions.
- The General Assembly should adopt legislation requiring more frequent
reporting of contributions to judicial campaigns. H.B. 201, sponsored by Rep.
Ann Womer Benjamin, would require reporting with a frequency that is
compatible with the technology in the secretary of state’s office.
- Ohio should do more to inform voters about judicial candidates. For
example, a number of states provide print and on-line voter guides. Congress
should provide free federal mailing for the print guides.
- Consider full public funding for Supreme Court races once the current
budget shortfall is corrected.
For more information call Jay
Wuebbold at 614.466.0674 or Joe Smith at 614.466.9700