Supreme Court of Ohio

Supreme Court of Ohio
Court name	Supreme Court of Ohio
Caption	Seal of the Supreme Court of Ohio
Established	1803
Location	Columbus
Authority	Ohio Constitution
Terms	6 years
Chiefjudgename	Sharon L. Kennedy
Termstart	2023

Supreme Court of Ohio. The Supreme Court of Ohio is the court of last resort and the highest court in the U.S. state of Ohio. Founded with the state's admission to the Union in 1803, it holds ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all cases arising under Ohio law and possesses important administrative and regulatory authority over the state's entire judiciary. Composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, the court is headquartered in the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in Columbus.

History

The court was established by Article III of the Ohio Constitution of 1802, with its first session held in Chillicothe in 1803. Its early structure and jurisdiction were modified by subsequent constitutions, including the Ohio Constitution of 1851, which created the foundation for the modern court system and established the positions of Chief Justice and Associate Justices elected by popular vote. Throughout the 19th century, the court grappled with defining state power, notably in cases involving state banks and railroad regulation. The 20th century saw its role expand significantly, particularly after the Judicial Reform Act of 1968, which centralized administrative control under the court. Landmark decisions during this period addressed issues of civil rights, tort reform, and criminal procedure.

Jurisdiction and powers

The court derives its authority from the Ohio Constitution and state statutes. It possesses mandatory jurisdiction in cases involving the death penalty, constitutionality of state statutes, and conflicts between Courts of Appeals districts. It has discretionary jurisdiction, through the granting of a writ of certiorari, to review other decisions from the Ohio Courts of Appeals. Beyond its appellate function, the court holds general superintendence over all Ohio courts under its rule-making and administrative powers. This includes the authority to prescribe rules for all state courts governing practice and procedure, oversee the attorney disciplinary system through the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and administer the state bar examination.

Justices

The court consists of seven members: the Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, all elected in statewide nonpartisan elections to staggered six-year terms. Candidates are selected in partisan primaries but appear on the general election ballot without party designation. A vacancy occurring between elections is filled by gubernatorial appointment. Justices must be attorneys admitted to practice in Ohio with at least six years of experience. Notable historical justices include Alphonso Taft, father of President William Howard Taft, and Florence Ellinwood Allen, the first woman elected to a state supreme court in the United States. The current Chief Justice is Sharon L. Kennedy.

Notable cases

The court has issued numerous influential rulings. In *Mapp v. Ohio* (1961), it initially upheld the conviction of Dollree Mapp before the U.S. Supreme Court reversed, establishing the exclusionary rule for states under the Fourth Amendment. *DeRolph v. State* (1997) was a landmark series of decisions declaring Ohio's system of funding public schools through local property taxes unconstitutional. In *State ex rel. Ohio Civil Rights Commission v. Dayton Christian Schools* (1986), it addressed the intersection of religious freedom and employment discrimination. More recently, cases like *State ex rel. Ohio Organizing Collaborative v. Husted* have dealt with voting rights and election administration.

Courthouse

Since 2004, the court has been housed in the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center, a historic Art Deco building on the Scioto River in downtown Columbus. Originally constructed between 1931 and 1933 as the Ohio Departments Building, it was renamed in honor of former Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer. The building underwent a massive restoration and adaptation, reopening as a dedicated judicial center. It contains the court's courtrooms, chambers, and administrative offices, as well as the Supreme Court of Ohio Law Library, one of the nation's largest public law libraries, and a visitor education center.

Administration and oversight

The Chief Justice serves as the chief administrative officer for the entire Ohio judicial branch. The court oversees the Administrative Director and staff who manage budgets, information technology, and court operations statewide. Through its Commission on Professionalism and Board of Professional Conduct, it regulates attorney and judicial ethics. The court also presides over the Ohio Judicial Conference, provides continuing legal education through the Judicial College, and manages several commissions, including the Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure and the Board of Bar Examiners. Its administrative rulings are compiled in the Ohio Official Reports.

Category:Supreme courts of the United States Category:Ohio state courts Category:Government of Ohio Category:1803 establishments in Ohio