Letters to the editor

Vote for Democrats for state Supreme Court Before you vote on Nov. 5, remember how important the Ohio Supreme Court races are on the ballot. The three Republican candidates are showing themselves unworthy of your votes compared to the Democratic candidates. Two years ago, the Court ruled in Dubose v. McGuffey that "the sole purpose of bail is to ensure an accused person's attendance in court … public safety is not a consideration." But Paragraph 21 stated: "IF THE STATE BELIEVES A PERSON POSES A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY … THEN THE STATE MUST FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES … FOR AN ORDER OF DETENTION WITHOUT BAIL. [Revised Code 2937.222]." Even so, Republicans at the time claimed the ruling "undermines the safety of our communities." Today's GOP judicial candidates continue lying about Democrats on the bench. One of them recently said on the radio, "[My Democratic opponent Michael Donnelly] was the author of the opinion that said judges shall not consider public safety when setting bonds. If there is a justice willing to risk extreme violence in our community, it's incumbent upon me to replace that justice." One would think it incumbent upon her not to spread fearmongering disinformation. Now consider the race between Melody Stewart and Joe Deters. Compare Justice Stewart's 18 years on the bench with Joe Deters' zero judicial experience when his buddy Gov. Mike DeWine appointed him to the state's highest court less than two years ago. This past July, Deters ruled that a man who almost died after swallowing a bone in a so-called boneless chicken wing "could have reasonably expected a bone in the boneless wing." So contrary to any dictionary definition, boneless really means "with bones" according to Joe Deters. In a ruling against the man, the GOP majority court also denied him his day before a jury to seek compensation for his extensive injuries and continuing pain. Are Joe Deters and the other Republican candidates the kind of judges you want on the Supreme Court of Ohio? Vote instead for Melody Stewart, Michael Donnelly and Lisa Forbes. Roger Kranz Findlay