2020 GENERAL ELECTION

OHIO SUPREME COURT CANDIDATES

Meet the Candidates

For Term Commencing 1/1/2021

Sharon L. Kennedy

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Current Position:
Justice, Ohio Supreme Court

Judicial Philosophy:
“I fundamentally believe in judicial restraint because if I am rewriting the law the way that Sharon Kennedy wants, we have nothing. Because I wear a black robe doesn't give me a third voice. It doesn't give me the ability just to erase the words that were enacted.”

Source: “Ohio Supreme Court justices stress importance of judicial restraint at educational forum.” Times Reporter, June 29, 2020

Major Endorsements
• Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio
• Buckeye Firearms Association
• Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio
• International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 18
• NFIB
• Ohio Chamber of Commerce
• Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
• Ohio Right to Life
• Ohio State Medical Association

Ohio State Bar Association Rating
Recommended, with a score of 23 out of 30

Party Affiliation:

Republican

Campaign Finance Statistics:
Total Raised (thru Aug. 31): $1,216,238

Education:
• Bachelor’s in Social Work, University of Cincinnati
• Juris Doctor, University of Cincinnati College of Law

Judicial Experience:
• Judge, Butler County Domestic Relations Court, 1999-2012
• Justice, Ohio Supreme Court, 2012-present

Professional Career:
• Police officer, Hamilton (Ohio) Police Department
• Director, Victim/Witness Division, Hamilton County Common Pleas Court
• Law Clerk, the Honorable Matthew J. Crehan, Butler County Common Pleas Court
• Attorney in private practice

Notable Achievements:

• Named Judge of the Year 2006, by the Ohio Child Support Enforcement Agencies’ Directors’ Association
• Organized a countywide Budget Work Group to present business-driven fiscal policy to Butler County commissioners

Personal Information:
Born 1962 in Hamilton County, Ohio. Justice Kennedy is single and currently resides in Liberty Township in Butler County.

Campaign Website for More Information:

http://wwwkennedyforohio.com

John P. O’Donnell

Cleveland Photographer

Current Position:
Judge, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court

Judicial Philosophy:
“My judicial philosophy (is) to achieve not just a legally correct result, but a just one."

Source: "For Supreme Court: Kennedy, O’Donnell.” Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 11, 2014

Major Endorsements
• Ohio AFL-CIO
• Ohio Education Association
• Ohio Federation of Teachers
• Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio
• Service Employees International Union 1199
• United Auto Workers

Ohio State Bar Association Rating
Recommended, with a score of 24 out of 30

Party Affiliation:

Democrat

Campaign Finance Statistics:
Total Raised (thru Aug. 31): $281,315

Education:
• Degree in English, Miami University
• Juris Doctor, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Judicial Experience:
• Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, 2002-2005, 2007-present

Professional Career:
• Claims adjuster for insurance company
• Attorney in private practice, Meyers, Hentemann & Rea, Gallagher Sharp, and Terrence J. Kenneally & Associates

Notable Achievements:

• Has handled specialized dockets for felony defendants with serious mental illnesses.
• One of only eight trial court judges in the state to preside over a commercial docket devoted strictly to business litigation.

Personal Information:
Born in 1965. Judge O’Donnell is married and has five children. He currently resides in Lakewood in Cuyahoga County.

Campaign Website for More Information:

http://www.odonnellforjustice.com

Meet the Candidates

For Term Commencing 1/2/2021

Jennifer Brunner

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Current Position:
Judge, Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals

Judicial Philosophy:
Believes the law and constitutional rights should be applied equally and fairly to all.

Source: “Former Ohio Secretary of State now running for supreme court.” Dayton Daily News, Sept. 20, 2020

Major Endorsements
• Communications Workers of America
• The Matriots
• Ohio AFL-CIO
• Ohio Education Association
• Ohio Federation of Teachers
• Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio
• Service Employees International Union 1199
• Stonewall Democrats of Ohio

Ohio State Bar Association Rating
Recommended, with a score of 20 out of 30

Party Affiliation:
Democrat

Campaign Finance Statistics:
Total Raised (thru Aug. 31): $419,511

Education:
• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology-Gerontology, cum laude, Miami University
• Juris doctor, Capital University Law School

Judicial Experience:
• Judge, Franklin County Common Pleas Court, 2001-2005
• Judge, 10th District Court of Appeals, 2015-present

Professional Career:
• Deputy Director and Legislative Counsel to Ohio Secretary of State Sherrod Brown
• Attorney in private practice, specializing in election law and campaign finance
• Ohio Secretary of State
• Principal, Brunner Quinn (Columbus)

Notable Achievements:

• Received John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her public service
• Author, Cupcakes and Courage, her memoir about growing up in Ohio and public life.
• Raised three foster children.

Personal Information:
Born 1957 in Springfield, Ohio, grew up in Columbus. Judge Brunner is married and has three children. She currently resides in Columbus.

Campaign Website for More Information:

http://www.judgebrunner.com

Judith L. French

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Current Position:
Justice, Ohio Supreme Court

Judicial Philosophy:
“I don't think that I get to decide that I just don't like a particular law. My job is to look at the law as it has been presented to me (and not put my) own spin on what the Constitution or state law or even a contract would mean.”

Source: “Ohio Supreme Court justices stress importance of judicial restraint at educational forum.” Times Reporter, June 29, 2020

Major Endorsements
• Buckeye Firearms Association
• Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio
• NFIB
• Ohio Chamber of Commerce
• Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
• Ohio Right to Life
• Ohio State Medical Association

Ohio State Bar Association Rating
Highly Recommended, with a score of 27 out of 30

Party Affiliation:
Republican

Campaign Finance Statistics:
Total Raised (thru Aug. 31): $930,921

Education:
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, The Ohio State University
• Master’s in History, The Ohio State University
• Juris Doctor, Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University

Judicial Experience:
• Judge, 10th District Court of Appeals, 2005-2013
• Justice, Ohio Supreme Court, 2013-present

Professional Career:
• Attorney in private practice, Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur (Columbus), specializing in environmental law
• In-house counsel for a large manufacturing company
• Deputy Director for legal affairs, Ohio EPA
• Assistant Attorney General and Chief Counsel to Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery.
• Chief Legal Counsel to Gov. BobTaft

Notable Achievements:
• Argued two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning a case involving the Cleveland school vouchers program, thereby helping to ensure equitable educational opportunities for disadvantaged Ohio students.

Personal Information:
Born 1962 in Sebring, Ohio. Justice French is married and has two children. She currently resides in Grandview Heights in Franklin County.

Campaign Website for More Information:

http://www.justicejudifrench.com