League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
	Ohio State Government March 6, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Justice; Ohio State Supreme Court; 6 Year Term Starting 1/2/13; Republican Party

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Campaign finance, Recusal Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. There is a public perception that campaign spending influences judicial decisions. What steps should be taken to give Ohioans confidence that justice is impartial and not influenced by campaign spending? Answer from Robert R. Cupp: Public confidence in the judiciary as a neutral and impartial forum for resolving disputes is essential. The most important shield against improper influence is to elect a person of character and integrity as judge. As long as the Ohio Constitution requires the election of judges, some campaign spending will exist as a necessary means to inform voters about judicial candidates. However, the Code of Judicial Conduct provides safeguards by strict limits on what judicial candidates may do or say. For example, a judicial candidate may not personally ask others for contributions nor personally accept contributions from others. Also, strict limits curb how much anyone may contribute to a judicial campaign. Moreover, judges and judicial candidates are prohibited from even appearing to promise to decide specific cases or issues in a particular way. Finally, a judge whose impartiality may reasonably be questioned is required to recuse from a case. 2. Ohio has recusal standards requiring judges not to participate in cases where they have an interest. What are specific examples of situations where you think a judge should recuse himself or herself? Answer from Robert R. Cupp: Some examples include when: a judge has a personal bias against a party or a party`s lawyer; a judge has personal knowledge of the facts in dispute; a judge has a personal economic stake in the outcome of the case; a judge`s spouse, other family member or close relative are either involved in the case or have a personal or economic stake in the outcome of the case; the judge has made an out of court statement appearing to commit the judge to a specific decision in the matter; the judge previously made a decision in same case in a lower court; and, any other matter in which the judge`s impartiality may reasonably be questioned. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits apply. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.