Nov. 17, 2010
Six Judicial Candidate Seminars Scheduled for 2011
The Supreme Court of Ohio has scheduled six judicial candidate seminars about campaign practices in 2011 with the first being held in Dublin on Feb. 2.
Rule 4.2(A)(4) of the Code of Judicial Conduct requires all judicial candidates, including incumbent judges, who are seeking election in 2011 to attend a seminar. Ohio is the only state that mandates attendance at a judicial campaign practices seminar through a requirement in the Code of Judicial Conduct. According to the rule, this requirement must be satisfied within one year prior to and not later than 30 days after certification of candidacy by the board of elections.
All judges in Ohio are elected to six-year terms. With 2011 being an odd-numbered year, elections for municipal court judgeships will occur.
Rick Dove, assistant administrative director and one of the faculty members teaching the course, said participants have included incumbents and challengers, campaign volunteers and paid consultants. In fact, judicial candidates are encouraged to bring their campaign chairpersons and treasurers with them to the seminar.
“The judicial campaign seminars foster a greater understanding of and compliance with the requirements of the Code of Judicial Conduct that are applicable to judicial candidates,” Dove said. “The seminar presentations focus on rules that are unique to judicial campaigns and address questions that frequently are asked by judicial candidates.”
The free seminar covers the ethics rules governing political and campaign activity by judicial candidates, including campaign conduct, standards, communications, solicitations and contributions, and campaign finance reporting and disclaimers. Faculty members also discuss ethics opinions and court cases governing the conduct of judicial candidates. Two hours of general CLE credit have been requested for the seminar.
Jonathan Marshall, secretary of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline, and Curt Mayhew, Campaign Finance administrator for the Ohio Secretary of State, also serve as faculty for the seminars.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.