Justice Judi French of the Ohio Supreme Court attended the Mansfield Kiwanis meeting on Thursday morning, sharing with the members what it’s like to be part of the Ohio Supreme Court.
Of the 1,700 requests that are submitted yearly, only about 100-120 cases are taken on by the Ohio Supreme Court. French noted that each of the seven justices looks at the 1,700 cases independently and decides which ones to choose.
Among the chosen cases is the JobsOhio Case. “In reality, when we choose to take a case in, we also choose what issues to take in. So when we took in the JobsOhio case, we accepted only one question for review. And it’s a question of standing. It’s a question of who has the authority to challenge the JobsOhio Program; more specifically, can an organization challenge a program like JobsOhio,” French said.
Another upcoming case concerns Occupy Cleveland. “I love constitutional questions and there’s a question coming out of Occupy Cleveland. The demonstrators that were occupying a public square in Cleveland were arrested, and so they’ve raised First Amendment challenges and we’ll be hearing that case coming up,” stated French.
Lawsuits filed in the state of Ohio last year tallied to 2.7 million. “It’s been going down a little the last several years. Most of those cases stay in the trial courts. Only about 12,000 of those make their way to the court of appeals,” French said.
When choosing which cases to take on at the Supreme Court level, French stated, “We’re looking for those cases that aren’t just about correcting a mistake by the lower court, but it’s really about finding those cases that will have the broadest impact on the state of Ohio.”
Half of the state’s Supreme Court’s docket is criminal. Six percent of the docket is comprised of disciplinary cases against attorneys.
“I’d like to describe the court [Supreme Court of Ohio] really as a back-stop for all of the policy decisions that the other policy makers make…My role is a very limited one and that is to interpret the laws and make sure that they’re constitutional,” French said.
Describing her role as justice, she said, “My work is very quiet; it’s very studious for the most part.”
Now coming close to completing her first year as justice, she explained, “To get started at the Supreme Court is a little like kindergarten. Everything is labeled; everything has your name on it.” Here, she is referring to when the seven justices meet to deliberate a case. She discussed the procedure, stating that each justice must sit in order according to seniority. The Chief Justice will always start the discussion with the first case, and everyone gets the opportunity to speak, but each must speak in order of seniority without interruption.
She stated a few times throughout the meeting how she loves her job and enjoys being able to travel. “As much as I love doing the quiet work of the court, I also think it’s my obligation to get around the state; I’ve been to all of 88 counties since taking office on Jan. 1,” she said.
Judith French was appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court as the 155th Justice, to replace Evelyn Lundberg Stratton who resigned, effective January 1, 2013. She is a native of Sebring, Ohio and is married to Franklin County Common Pleas Magistrate Ed Skeens, with whom she has two children.
In other Kiwanis business, John Grove was elected as Treasurer for Kiwanis, and Jim Sites was awarded the Legion of Honor Award for 35 years of service to Kiwanis.
Also, the Kiwanis Lip Sync Stage Show will be held Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Ontario Middle School Auditorium. Tickets cost $5 and will be sold at the door and at Richland Bank, located at 325 Lex-Springmill Rd.
“We’re looking for those cases that aren’t just about correcting a mistake by the lower court, but it’s really about finding those cases that will have the broadest impact on the state of Ohio,” said Justice French.
