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Melody is from Cleveland. She holds a bachelor's degree in music and music theory and composition from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a law degree from Cleveland State University Colleg of Law, and a doctorate degree in philosophy in social sciences from Case Western Reserve University's School of Applied Social Sciences. 

Melody previously worked at Cleveland State University College of Law, where she served as an assistant dean of admissions, financial aid, and students. She worked as the director of student services at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and as an assistant law director for the City of Cleveland and the City of East Cleveland. She also worked as a civil defense litigator in state and federal courts.  

Melody J. Stewart currently serves as an Ohio State Supreme Court Justice. ​She was elected to this position in 2018 and is serving her 1st term. She is also the 1st African American woman elected to the Supreme Court of Ohio. ​​She previously served as a judge for the Ohio Court of Appeals in District 8. She was elected to that position in 2006 and served for 2 terms. 

TimesReporter, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody Stewart talks about the death penalty, bail bond reform, efficiency

As a state supreme court justice, Stewart wanted to improve responsiveness in towns and cities statewide.

Believed the state court did not have "enough meeting hours or weekend hours."

Believed"where justice is served..." should not rely on which county one lives in.

- As a state supreme court justice, Stewart wanted to improve responsiveness in towns and cities statewide.
- Believed the state court did not have "enough meeting hours or weekend hours."
- Believed"where justice is served..." should not rely on which county one lives in.

Judicial Administration

Candidate website

Believes in protecting democracy by opposing unlawful partisan schemes.

Opposes politicians applying favoritism when mapping districts. 

Said "There are some counties in this state who have never prosecuted a case with death-penalty specifications. If a heinous crime is death-penalty worthy, then it's death-penalty worthy, whether you're in a small county or...a big urban county, or we do away with the death penalty...".

- Opposes politicians applying favoritism when mapping districts. 
- Said "There are some counties in this state who have never prosecuted a case with death-penalty specifications. If a heinous crime is death-penalty worthy, then it's death-penalty worthy, whether you're in a small county or...a big urban county, or we do away with the death penalty...".

Judicial Philosophy

Served with a county Community Juvenile Diversion Program and the Catholic Charities Service Corporation.

- Served with a county Community Juvenile Diversion Program and the Catholic Charities Service Corporation.

Community Involvement

Believes the only reason to run for public office is to serve the public, not partisan political agendas.

Believes the "first and only reason to run for public office is to serve the public, not partisan political agendas."

- Believes the "first and only reason to run for public office is to serve the public, not partisan political agendas."

Ethics & Conduct

As a state supreme court justice, Stewart decides which cases the court will review, and evaluates questions of constitutional law, wrongful imprisonment cases, capital felonies, election contests, and the state’s use of the death penalty. The justice also ensures that lower courts apply the law correctly, allows certain cases to be retried, and provides final interpretations of state law.

As a state court of appeals judge, Stewart ensured the law had been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases, exercised the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of law by lower appeals and trial courts, and heard applications for court orders that compel and prohibit certain actions by lower courts and government officials.

Served with the Judicial College of the Ohio Supreme Court.

- As a state supreme court justice, Stewart decides which cases the court will review, and evaluates questions of constitutional law, wrongful imprisonment cases, capital felonies, election contests, and the state’s use of the death penalty. The justice also ensures that lower courts apply the law correctly, allows certain cases to be retried, and provides final interpretations of state law.
- As a state court of appeals judge, Stewart ensured the law had been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases, exercised the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of law by lower appeals and trial courts, and heard applications for court orders that compel and prohibit certain actions by lower courts and government officials.
- Served with the Judicial College of the Ohio Supreme Court.

Legal Experience

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Melody J. Stewart

Melody J. Stewart currently serves as a state supreme court justice in the State of Ohio. ​She was elected to this position in 2018 and is serving her 1st term. She is also the 1st African American woman elected to the Supreme Court of Ohio. ​​She previously served as a judge for the Ohio Court of Appeals in District 8. She was elected to that position in 2006 and served for 2 terms. 

As of August 16, 2024, Melody J. Stewart’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Melody J. Stewart is a Justice on the Ohio Supreme Court, having been elected in 2018. She previously served on the Ohio Court of Appeals for 12 years.

Melody J. Stewart was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2018 and is running for re-election. She served on the Ohio Court of Appeals for 12 years before being elected to the Supreme Court.

- The Supreme Court of Ohio has seven justices and serves as the final authority on the Ohio Constitution and Ohio law.
- The Court must accept appeals of cases that originated in the courts of appeals; cases involving the death penalty; cases involving questions arising under the U.S. Constitution or the Ohio Constitution; and cases in which there have been conflicting opinions from two or more courts of appeals.
- Decisions are made collectively by majority vote, and a justice writes the majority opinion.
- The justices elect a chief justice who serves as the administrative head of the state's court system, serving a six-year term.
- Justices are elected at large by the voters of Ohio for six-year terms across districts. Vacancies can be filled by the governor's appointment, with staggered elections ensuring that only some justices are elected each year.
- The chief justice earns $174,700 per year and associate justices $164,000 per year.