Sept. 15, 2010
Franklin Appellate Judge Hears Supreme Court Case
Judge John A. Connor of the 10th District Court of Appeals served as a visiting judge on the Supreme Court of Ohio today and heard oral arguments in a Summit County case.
Judge Connor was selected by Chief Justice Eric Brown to sit in place of Justice Maureen O’Connor, who recused herself from State v. Ross (Case No. 2009-1619).
According to the Ohio Constitution, in the event of a recusal by a Justice, the Chief Justice or the Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court can select any of the 69 sitting Ohio appellate court judges to sit temporarily on the Supreme Court.
The Ross case involves whether a judge can reconsider and grant a post-mistrial motion for acquittal after initially denying the same motion.
Judge Connor began his term on the appeals court on Feb. 9, 2009. Previously, he served on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, for more than 16 years. While serving on the common pleas bench, he also served as the drug court judge in the drug court program known as TIES, in addition to his other duties as a general division judge. His public service career has also included serving in several different capacities under five different Ohio Attorneys General. He received his bachelor’s degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University and his law degree from the Ohio State University College of Law.
“It is a great honor and privilege to be selected by the Chief Justice to serve the court,” said Judge Connor.
The 10th District Court of Appeals serves Franklin County, and hears cases from county, municipal and common pleas courts as well as original actions in habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, procedendo and quo warranto.
Archived video of this case and every case argued before the Supreme Court of Ohio since March 2004 is available at http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/videostream.
For a high-resolution, print-quality photo of Judge Connor, visit: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/PIO/news/2010/connorHR.zip.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.