Judicial Votes Count, Lisa Forbes

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Ballotpedia, Lisa Forbes

Lisa holds a bachelor's degree in public policy from Cornell University and a law degree from Case Western Reserve School of Law. She lives in Shaker Heights with her husband and their 3 children. She is a member of St. Dominic Church in Shaker Heights. 

Lisa previously worked as a business litigator at Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease LLP, where she was also a partner in the Vorys Cleveland office. She also worked as an associate at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP. 

Lisa Forbes currently serves as a state court of appeals judge in District 8. She was elected to this position in 2020 and is serving her 1st full term. 

Candidate website

Cleveland, Lisa Forbes, a Cuyahoga County appeals court judge, is running for Ohio Supreme Court

Believes the state’s highest court should protect individual rights and freedoms, and opposes turning the Supreme Court into a "rubber stamp for their extreme agenda."

Believes "some powerful partisan interests want to turn the Supreme Court into a rubber stamp for their extreme agenda."

Believes "Ohio needs a new justice who will stand up for all Ohioans and stand firm against political pressure."

Wants to establish a sentencing database with Justice Donnelly to determine whether a defendant's sentence is proportional to the severity of the alleged offense.

Opposes a defendant's sentence being influenced by one's assigned courtroom.

Supports focusing on "rights that are afforded to Ohioans under the constitution and (state) laws.", including abortion access.

- Believes "some powerful partisan interests want to turn the Supreme Court into a rubber stamp for their extreme agenda."
- Believes "Ohio needs a new justice who will stand up for all Ohioans and stand firm against political pressure."
- Wants to establish a sentencing database with Justice Donnelly to determine whether a defendant's sentence is proportional to the severity of the alleged offense.
- Opposes a defendant's sentence being influenced by one's assigned courtroom.
- Supports focusing on "rights that are afforded to Ohioans under the constitution and (state) laws.", including abortion access.

Judicial Administration

Believes the Supreme Court is "the last line of defense for individual rights and freedoms here in Ohio."

Believes the state supreme court is "the last line of defense for individual rights and freedoms here in Ohio."

Said, "If elected, I will be an independent and fair jurist, and work every day to keep that firewall in place to protect your rights."

Said If elected, she will "work every day to keep that firewall in place to protect your rights."

- Believes the state supreme court is "the last line of defense for individual rights and freedoms here in Ohio."
- Said If elected, she will "work every day to keep that firewall in place to protect your rights."

Judicial Philosophy

Serves on the board of directors of the Center for Families and Children, Circle Health, El Barrio, and the Cleveland Christian Home for children.

- Serves on the board of directors of the Center for Families and Children, Circle Health, El Barrio, and the Cleveland Christian Home for children.

Community Involvement

As of August 7, 2024, Lisa Forbes’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

As a state court of appeals judge, Forbes ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases, exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower appeals and trial courts, and hears applications for court orders that compel and prohibit certain actions by lower courts and government officials.

As a business litigator and partner at the Cleveland office at Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease LLP, Forbes helped clients resolve disputes, including complex business litigation, consumer class actions, legal malpractice, and trust and estate disputes, among other problems.

- As a state court of appeals judge, Forbes ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases, exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower appeals and trial courts, and hears applications for court orders that compel and prohibit certain actions by lower courts and government officials.
- As a business litigator and partner at the Cleveland office at Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease LLP, Forbes helped clients resolve disputes, including complex business litigation, consumer class actions, legal malpractice, and trust and estate disputes, among other problems.

Legal Experience

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Lisa Forbes

Lisa Forbes graduated summa cum laude from Case Western Reserve School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University. She and her husband have been married for 32 years and are raising three children in the Shaker Heights City School District.

Lisa Forbes is currently a judge on the 8th District Court of Appeals. She previously worked as a business litigator and partner at the Cleveland office of a national law firm.

Lisa Forbes was elected to the bench in 2020 and currently serves as a judge on the 8th District Court of Appeals.

Believes the Ohio Supreme Court should serve as a "check and balance."

Supports community engagement in judicial matters, as evidenced by moderating discussions between Supreme Court candidates.

Believes the Ohio Supreme Court is "Ohioans’ last stop for justice."

Believes Ohio’s highest court plays a crucial role in offsetting the executive branch and ensuring justice.

Believes Ohio’s highest court is crucial in impacting residents' lives, saying it "occasionally offsetting Ohio’s powerful executive branch, and Ohio’s grossly partisan General Assembly."

Endorsed by the Communications Workers of America District #4.

Endorsed by the Ohio Association of Public School Employees.

Endorsed by the Association of Cleveland Firefighters IAFF Local 93.

Served on the boards of the Center for Families and Children, Circle Health, and El Barrio.

Endorsed by the Ohio Federation of Teachers.

Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.

Member of the Painters & Allied Trades District Council No. 6 State of Ohio and Central Kentucky.

Member of the Journeymen Plumbers' Union Local No.

Endorsed candidates through a member-driven process involving detailed questionnaires, interviews, and reviews of policy positions, public statements, and voting records, ensuring alignment with the organization's values and goals.

Believes a Trump win could influence down-ticket races.

Believes abortion rights activists should pay attention to Ohio’s Supreme Court elections.

Believes in a member-driven endorsement process, ensuring candidates align with organizational values through detailed questionnaires and interviews.

Believes the fate of Ohio's abortion restrictions depends on the outcome of November's state Supreme Court elections, which could determine the court's majority.

Believes in the importance of community involvement by supporting local candidates and issues.

Supports limiting individual contributions to $4,100 and organizational contributions to $7,500.

Supports contributions to Forbes for Justice, an organization that provides legal representation to individuals who have been wrongfully convicted, as they are eligible for an Ohio income tax credit up to $50 for individuals and $100 for joint returns.

Believes his career as a litigator and appellate court judge has prepared him to defend the court from "attacks" by applying fairness, facts, and the law in each case.

- 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.