In Brief: The Columbus Bar Blawg

The Ohio Supreme Court races in 2012 feature three incumbents running for election: Justices Robert Cupp and Terrence O’Donnell seek another term; Justice Yvette McGee Brown is running to fulfill the remaining two years on now-Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor‘s seat. All three justices face opposition.

Justice McGee Brown will face Republican Butler County Domestic Relations Court Judge Sharon L. Kennedy. Judge Kennedy, a former Hamilton city police officer, notes that her “experience as a police officer on the street and in an administrative role helped to prepare her for the judiciary.”

Justice O’Donnell will face Democrat Robert (“Bob”) W. Price, a 62-year old probate associate at the firm of Richard G. Zellers & Associates in Canfield (Youngstown/Austintown area). Price received his law degree in 2002, having worked his way through law school, and having “spent 32 years on the assembly line at the Lordstown General Motors complex.” According to the Youngstown Vindicator, Price is a Mahoning County Democratic Party precinct committee member and the party’s Austintown district leader.

Justice Cupp does not yet know his opponent. His Democratic opposition will be decided in the March 2012 primary pitting Hamilton County Municipal Judge Fanon A. Rucker and former 11th District Court of Appeals Judge William (“Bill”) Michael O’Neill against each other.  O’Neill has had two unsuccessful runs at the Ohio Supreme Court, and he is notable for refusing to accept campaign donations.  Judge Rucker’s father sits on the Indiana Supreme Court. Judge Rucker, 40, was appointed to the municipal court bench in 2007 at the age of 35, and he was just elected in November 2011 to a six-year term as municipal Court judge.