What JCRC Ratings Mean
Each JCRC member organization rates every candidate based upon the criteria of impartiality, integrity, temperament, diligence and professional competence.
JCRC member organizations have rated candidates for election in November 2008 for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas-General Division, Probate Court, Domestic Relations Court, and Court of Appeals, as well as the Supreme Court of Ohio.
The following ratings are used:
- Excellent - The candidate demonstrates the above criteria to an outstanding degree. This rating means the candidate is a superior choice for this office, well-qualified with exceptional judicial skills.
- Good - The candidate demonstrates the above criteria beyond minimal levels. This rating means the candidate is well qualified for this office, would serve ably and provide good judicial performance.
- Adequate - The candidate minimally meets the above criteria. This rating means the cadidate, possessing sufficient qualification for the office, would serve adequately.
- Not Recommended - The candidate does not minimally meet the above criteria. This rating means the candidate should not be elected. The candidate's qualifications indicate that he or she would be undesirable in judicial office. Pursuant to JCRC By-Laws, a "Not Recommended" or"Refused to Participate" rating may also be given to a candidate who refuses to submit or sign a questionnaire, to provide a release with respect to disciplinary records, or to be interviewed.
For voter convenience, we have also provided an average rating for each candidate. We compute each average by adding the numeric values of the various organizations' ratings for that candidate and dividing by 4. For this purpose, Excellent=4, Good=3, Adequate=2 and Not Recommended = 0. Each organization's rating has been given equal weight in the averages and is not weighted by the number of members that the organization has. For more on JCRC member organizations, click here.
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Each judge in the General Division of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas has general jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases.
For more information go to http://cp.cuyahogacounty.us/ccpcourt/index.aspx
The Probate Court supervises the administration of the estate of a decedent who was a legal resident in the county at the time of death. Each transaction involved in the administration of an estate is subject to the examination and approval of the Probate Court.
Other matters within the Probate Court's jurisdiction are: issuance of marriage licenses, adoptions, guardianship proceedings, the involuntary commitment of the mentally ill, and land appropriation cases.
The Probate Court position for the term starting 1/1/09 is the Administrative Judge of the Probate Court. The judge elected to this position has the power to appoint (1) all members of the Cleveland Metroparks board; (2) two members of the Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities; (3) one member of Metro Health Hospital's board; (4) one member of the Cleveland Foundation's distribution committee.
For more information go to http://www.probate.cuyahogacounty.us/home.htm
The Domestic Relations Court presides over divorces, dissolutions, legal separations, annulments, domestic violence petitions, enforcement of foreign support orders, establishments of certain foreign support cases and registration of certain non-Ohio divorce decrees. Additionally, the court continues to retain jurisdiction to enforce its own orders and to modify issues relating to the custody of children and child support.
For more information go to http://domestic.cuyahogacounty.us/Generalinformation.htm
Qualification of Candidates for Court of Common Pleas
To qualify as a candidate for election to any division of the Court of Common Pleas, a person must be an attorney admitted to practice in Ohio with at least six years of experience in the practice of law.
Eighth District Court of Appeals
The primary function of the Eighth District Court of Appeals is to hear appeals of judgments and final orders entered in civil and criminal cases entered by all trial courts in Cuyahoga County. The Eighth District Court of Appeals hears appeals from the General Division, Domestic Relations Division, Probate Division and Juvenile Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County, and from every municipal court in the county.
A case seeking an extraordinary writ may be filed in the Court of Appeals as an original action. Extraordinary writs include writs of habeas corpus (inquiry into the cause of an allegedly unlawful imprisonment), writs of mandamus (ordering a public official to perform a required act), writs of procedendo (compelling a lower court to proceed to judgment) and of prohibition (ordering a lower court not to engage in unlawful action) and writs of quo warranto (issued against a person or corporation for usurpation, misuse or abuse of public office or corporate office or franchise.
Each case before the Court of Appeals is heard by three judges. A majority is necessary to render judgment in all cases except that the reversal of a judgment resulting from a trial by jury, based upon the weight of the evidence, requires the concurrence of all three judges.
Qualifications of Candidates for Court of Appeals Judge
To qualify as a candidate for election to the Court of Appeals, a person must be an attorney admitted to practice in Ohio with at least six years of experience in the practice of law.
For more information about the Eighth District Court of Appeals, go to www.cuyahogacounty.us/appeals/default.htm
Ohio Supreme Court
The Ohio Supreme Court is the highest court in Ohio, and the court of last resort. All seven Justices hear each case, and a decision is rendered by a majority.
Most of the Supreme Court’s cases are appeals from the twelve district courts of appeals. The Court may grant leave to appeal felony cases from the courts of appeals and may direct a court of appeals to certify its record in any civil or misdemeanor case that the Court finds to be “of public or great general interest”.
The Court also has appellate jurisdiction of several specific types of cases, including cases involving questions arising under the Ohio or U.S. Constitution, cases in which the opinions of two different courts of appeals, on the same issue, are in conflict, all cases in which the death penalty has been imposed, and decisions of certain administrative agencies, including the Public Utilities Commission and the Board of Tax Appeals.
Cases seeking extraordinary writs may be filed in the Supreme Court as original actions. Extraordinary writs include writs of habeas corpus (inquiry into the cause of an allegedly unlawful imprisonment), writs of mandamus (ordering a public official to perform a required act), writs of procedendo (compelling a lower court to proceed to judgment) and of prohibition (ordering a lower court not to engage in unlawful action) and writs of quo warranto (issued against a person or corporation for usurpation, misuse or abuse of public office or corporate office or franchise.
The Ohio Supreme Court has the exclusive authority to regulate the practice of law in Ohio. The Court also has authority to prescribe rules government practice and procedure in all courts of Ohio and to supervise all state courts.
Qualifications of Candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Justice
To qualify as a candidate for election to the Supreme Court, a person must be an attorney admitted to practice in Ohio with at least six years of experience in the practice of law.
For more information about the Ohio Supreme Court, go to www.sconet.state.oh.us.