Links and Resources
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League of Women Voters of Ohio Educational Toolkit
League of Women Voters of the United States Midwest Democracy Network is an alliance of political reformers and policy researchers committed to improving democratic institutions in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. We advocate for a political system that will create a healthy economy, good jobs, access to health care and quality schools. Ohio Citizen Action is Ohio’s largest environmental organization. The organization focuses on environmental health, and also tracks political corruption in the state. American Bar Association’s overview, Independent Courts: How Important Are They?
The American Judicature Society (AJS) AJS is a nonpartisan organization that seeks to maintain the independence and integrity of the courts and increase public understanding of the justice system. This site provides link to judicial independence, judicial selection and editorials, including:
The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law The Fair Courts Project seeks to maintain a fair and independent judiciary. The site includes links to Fair Court, publications and op-eds, including:
The Center for Public Integrity The Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, non-advocacy, independent journalism organization whose mission is to “produce original, responsible investigative journalism to make institutional power more transparent and accountable.” Search for articles on relevant topics, such as “soft money.”
Constitution Project’s Courts Initiative A bipartisan group that is educating and advocating for fair, impartial and accountable courts. Offers resources and links to relevant informational materials, including:
“The Independence and Democratic Accountability of the Supreme Court of Ohio” by Paul D. Carrington and Adam R. Long (2002). Capital University Law Review 30:455-487. A review of the history of judicial selection in Ohio, the influence of “big money” in Ohio’s supreme court campaigns and an assessment of ways to select judges. Rachel Caufield’s “The Foreboding National Trends in Judicial Elections” (2005) provides additional examples and a discussion of the increasing influence of money, special interests and attack ads in judicial elections. “Light On The Dark Side?” An overview of recent judicial elections in Ohio and a summary of the March, 2003, forum involving the state’s top political, legal, business and labor leaders to examine judicial reform in Ohio. “Judicial Selection in Ohio: History, Recent Developments, and an Analysis of Reform Proposal” A Report of the Center for Law and Justice at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, September 2003, by Michael E. Solimine, Carolyn Chavez, Thomas Pulley, and Lee Sprouse. “The Judiciary on Trial: State Constitutional Reform and the Rise of an Elected Judiciary, 1846-1860” A history of how we came to elect judges, by Kermit Hall for Frontline. An investigation into how campaign cash is corrupting America’s courts. Interactive map showing how each state selects judges; plus links to state information and resources; how we came to elect judges; reform efforts underway; and more by Frontline, 1999. For more about voters’ lack of candidate information, see page 78 Justice in Jeopardy and the League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund’s How to Select a Judicial Candidate A nationwide, nonpartisan partnership of more than thirty judicial, legal and citizen organizations providing educational information about fair and impartial courts. Links to state election information, reports, resources and articles, including:
Includes complete coverage of the 2006 elections, a searchable database, campaign finance reports, the League of Women Voters of Ohio voter guide, etc. This site is sponsored by the Columbus Dispatch. “The Role of an Independent Judiciary” by Philippa Strum Information about the role of an independent judiciary and its history in the U.S. on the USINFO website (maintained by the U.S. Department of State). Ohio Secretary of State Ohio State Bar Association
Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts This nonprofit, nonpartisan organization provides general information about topics such as the selection and retention of judges, merit selection, bias in the courts and judicial independence. “Public Funding of Judicial Elections: The Roles of Judges and the Rules of Campaign Finance” by Deborah Goldberg A review of the issues and options in use for public funding of non-judicial campaigns. “Whither Judicial Elections?” Page 17 in for the record, second quarter, 2003. A detailed summary of the March, 2003, judicial forum—“Judicial Impartiality: The Next Steps”—involving key representatives from the Ohio judiciary, legislature, institutions of higher education, labor and nonpartisan organizations. “The Purposes and Beneficiaries of Party ‘Soft Money,’” by John Dunbar For more about “soft money” and “hard money” in campaigns, see The Brennan Center’s article, “The Purposes and Beneficiaries of Party ‘Soft Money,’” by John Dunbar for the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity or “Soft Money Primer” Supreme Court of Ohio
Additional links and resources on Accountability, Judicial Impartiality and Fairness, Campaign Finance, Election Laws and Redistricting.
Links to Voter Information, including a voter guide for state races, local League websites for facts on local races and telephone numbers for county boards of election. Also includes links to: League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund’s guide, How to Find Out about Judicial Candidates. Includes questions to ask. League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund’s Judicial Independence Project: Talking points for the project that is designed to increase citizen interest in judicial elections; outline shortcomings of the current judicial campaign finance system; and educate the public, the media, and legislators on the merits of reform. |