Judge Judy making a case for reelection to Ohio Supreme Court
By Dave Mast
March 22, 2010
569
Several days ago, Ohio Supreme Court Judge Judy Lanzinger made a stop in Holmes County to meet with leading officials in the county, before keynoting the annual Republican Party Dinner in Walnut Creek. Up for reelection for the first time, she was making the rounds throughout Ohio to get her name in the public eye, something which she said most judges would prefer to avoid most times.
Justice Lanzinger, 63, won election to the seven-member Supreme Court in 2004, filling a seat previously held by a Democrat. As part of the Supreme Court for the past six years, she has been a part of an all-Republican group, but said politics have no place in making decisions on the Ohio state court level.
To be a good judge, you have to be able to think, research, consider, and above all, isolate yourself from political parties, said Lanzinger. Im proud of the job Ive done over the past six years. I have done my best to do what is right in the eyes of the law. Were not put here to create laws, but to abide by them. Theres a misnomer out there that having seven Republicans on the court doesnt allow all parties to be heard. You cant go into this job with an agenda, or youll fail. Ive learned over the years to look at the law from all angles in order to make fair judgements.
Lanzinger said that if anyone wants to know what kind of decisions she has passed down over her tenure, they need not look any further than the Ohio Supreme Court Web site, where summaries of every argument are posted, either live or on video.
Lanzinger said that the goal of the court system is to make sure everyone can see what rulings are taking place, and that there are no hidden agendas.
While sitting on a court which makes monumental decisions that can have far-reaching ramifications, Lanzinger said that the single biggest bond the judges have is that they must care deeply about people.
This job is about caring about people, and about exhibiting character in everything you do, said Lanzinger.
When Lanzinger got into politics, she had no pedigree. She was the first member of her family to attend college, and was an educator not a politician receiving a degree in elementary education.
But since she sunk her teeth into the judicial system, she has been devoted to setting a course for following the constitution and promoting solid morals. Over 25 years, Justice Lanzinger gained common sense experience at every court level, including municipal, common pleas, court of appeals and Supreme Court. To become a better judge, she studied for a Master of Judicial Studies degree, and was only the second woman in the U.S. to earn that particular degree. She has continued to teach judges nationwide and went to Russia to teach for the National Judicial College. She has been on the faculty at the University of Toledo College of Law for 20 years.
Lanzingers rise to the top of Ohios court system has developed over the years with hard work and dedication, and although she knew she had the character and persistence to make each step along the way of her career path through the court system, she feels blessed to be able to have people put so much faith in her.
Im often amazed at the progression of my career, said Lanzinger. I never take for granted how hard I worked to get here, and I remain grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives, and make decisions which will affect people for years to come. For the most part, Im just trying to be a good person and do whats right. I care about people about all people. This is a helping profession, and I truly enjoy helping others.
In recent times, Lanzinger has helped to define several crucial laws, one concerning peoples rights to not have police search their cell phones at routine checks, one adhering to the rights of the protection of landowners in decisions concerning rulings deemed to be for the common good, and a third which has implications for what constitutes computer pornography.
Barring a surprise primary challenge, Justice Lanzingers Democratic opponent this fall is expected to be Mary Jane Trapp, administrative and presiding judge of the Warren-based 11th District Court of Appeals.
Lanzinger refuses to get into any kind of mudslinging campaign against any opponent, but rather says that her resume and experience should tell people everything they need to know about her qualifications.
Lanzinger said that experience makes her selection over the far less-experienced Trapp, and her sparkling record serving as an Ohio Supreme Court Justice member, a reason for voters to tab her come election this November.
Going out and campaigning is not something I look forward to doing, said Lanzinger. Id rather be doing my job in the courts. I guess campaigning is one of those necessary evils that comes with being an elected official.
Married to Bob Lanzinger for 42 years, the couple has raised two children, both of whom are now attorneys. Their son, Josh, served in Iraq while in the U.S. Army. Their daughter, Mara, is married to Doug Spidel. The justices family includes three grandchildren, whom Lanzinger said keep her well-balanced and grounded.
