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Ballotpedia, Michael P. Donnelly (Ohio)

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WFMJ, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly discusses upcoming election

OHIO CAPITAL JOURNAL, Ohio Supreme Court rejects six-week ban appeal

Supports banning "factually baseless plea bargains."

Supports eliminating "factually baseless plea bargains.", which  Donnelly stated is pleading to a crime one did not commit in an effort to resolve a court case. 

Believes in reforming plea bargaining to prevent "sentencing by ambush."

Supports using data to promote equity in sentencing and increase transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the justice system.

Wants to establish a state criminal database as a means of promoting equitable sentences and enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the justice system. 

As a judge, rolled back over $200 million in surcharges Ohio consumers had been forced to pay First Energy.

As a judge, Donnelly invalidated over $200 million in surcharges that Ohio consumers were "forced" to pay First Energy.

As a state supreme court justice, Donnelly rejected a proposal to pause the 6-week abortion ban instituted by the Hamilton County Court of Appeals.

- Supports eliminating "factually baseless plea bargains.", which  Donnelly stated is pleading to a crime one did not commit in an effort to resolve a court case. 
- Opposes "sentencing by ambush."
- Wants to establish a state criminal database as a means of promoting equitable sentences and enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the justice system. 
- As a judge, Donnelly invalidated over $200 million in surcharges that Ohio consumers were "forced" to pay First Energy.
- As a state supreme court justice, Donnelly rejected a proposal to pause the 6-week abortion ban instituted by the Hamilton County Court of Appeals.

Judicial Administration

Said "Ohioans shouldn't have the perception that we as judges vote according to party label...Everything that we do as judges has nothing to do with partisan politics. We are there to follow the law, not make the law, even if we disagree with a lot..."

- Said "Ohioans shouldn't have the perception that we as judges vote according to party label...Everything that we do as judges has nothing to do with partisan politics. We are there to follow the law, not make the law, even if we disagree with a lot..."

Judicial Philosophy

Served on the board of the Cleveland Baseball Federation and Chagrin Arts.

- Served on the board of the Cleveland Baseball Federation and Chagrin Arts. 

Community Involvement

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As a Supreme Court Justice, he was part of the majority that rejected gerrymandered districts, argued against the General Assembly's power to schedule a special August election in 2023, and supported keeping the Reproductive Freedom amendment on the 2023 ballot.

As a Supreme Court Justice, Donnelly rejected districts that were gerrymandered in violation of Ohio’s Constitution. 

Opposes backroom deals and said as a trial court judge, he "led a statewide effort that would prevent...behind-the-scenes deals...".

- As a Supreme Court Justice, Donnelly rejected districts that were gerrymandered in violation of Ohio’s Constitution. 
- Opposes backroom deals and said as a trial court judge, he "led a statewide effort that would prevent...behind-the-scenes deals...".
- Supports transparency.

Ethics & Conduct

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

As a judge, led the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Court, overseeing criminal cases involving defendants with severe mental illness or developmental disabilities.

As a Common Pleas Court Judge, Donnelly helped lead the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Court, reviewed the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issued marriage licenses, administered divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversaw criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parent-less. 

As an attorney at the Climaco, Lefkowitz, Peca, Wilcox & Garofoli law firm, Donnelly researched, drafted, and filed legal documents and provided defense and counsel to clients, including injured workers.

- As a state supreme court justice, Donnelly decides which cases the court will grant review of, evaluates questions of constitutional law, wrongful imprisonment cases, capital felonies, election contests, and the state’s use of the death penalty. The justice ensures that lower courts apply the law correctly, allows certain cases to be retried, and provides final interpretations of state law.
- As a Common Pleas Court Judge, Donnelly helped lead the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Court, reviewed the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issued marriage licenses, administered divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversaw criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parent-less. 
- As an attorney at the Climaco, Lefkowitz, Peca, Wilcox & Garofoli law firm, Donnelly researched, drafted, and filed legal documents and provided defense and counsel to clients, including injured workers.

Legal Experience

Michael P. Donnelly

Ballotpedia, Megan Shanahan

Supported an amendment to the Ohio Constitution allowing judges to consider public safety when setting bail for dangerous offenders.

Supported an amendment to the Ohio Constitution permitting judges to consider public safety when setting bail for people accused of violent crimes.

Testified that an amendment to the state constitution would allow judges to set bail "at an amount that keeps vulnerable people safe, secures the defendant’s appearance at trial, and promotes public confidence in the justice system."

- Supported an amendment to the Ohio Constitution permitting judges to consider public safety when setting bail for people accused of violent crimes.
- Testified that an amendment to the state constitution would allow judges to set bail "at an amount that keeps vulnerable people safe, secures the defendant’s appearance at trial, and promotes public confidence in the justice system."

Opposes judges "legislating from the bench."

Believes ideology has corrupted the judicial ratings process, turning it into "another partisan charade."

Believes political biases have "poisoned the judicial ratings process...". 

Believes a judge's role does not entail setting policies.

- Opposes judges "legislating from the bench."
- Believes political biases have "poisoned the judicial ratings process...". 
- Believes a judge's role does not entail setting policies.

As of August 7, 2024, Megan E. Shanahan’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Cincinnati Enquierer, Ohio only state with chance to flip Supreme Court this year | Opinion

Accused of taking to social media to "brag about her endorsements..." from anti-abortion groups and stating she is "proud" to be endorsed by such groups that support her campaign.

- Accused of taking to social media to "brag about her endorsements..." from anti-abortion groups and stating she is "proud" to be endorsed by such groups that support her campaign.

As a court of common pleas judge, Shanahan reviews the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issues with marriage licenses, administers divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversees criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parent-less.

As a municipal court judge, Shanahan oversaw cases involving traffic offenses and local ordinance violations, conducted preliminary hearings in criminal cases, issued search and arrest warrants, and determined sentencing in certain minor criminal cases.

- As a court of common pleas judge, Shanahan reviews the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issues with marriage licenses, administers divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversees criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parent-less.
- As a municipal court judge, Shanahan oversaw cases involving traffic offenses and local ordinance violations, conducted preliminary hearings in criminal cases, issued search and arrest warrants, and determined sentencing in certain minor criminal cases.

Megan E. Shanahan

- 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.